Albert was one of 30 New Mexico women honored in the 15th annual competition, sponsored by the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women and the Governor's Office.
Albert, a metallurgist in Los Alamos' Materials Technology: Metallurgy Group, will be recognized at the Governor's Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women banquet May 6 in Albuquerque. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. at the Albuquerque Crowne Plaza Pyramid. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by calling the Commission on the Status of Women at (800) 432-9168.
Albert is a 1996 recipient of the Governor's Award. Other Laboratory employees have been recognized in the past as well.
Albert was nominated by Juanita Salazar of the Laboratory's Science and Technology Base Program Office. Salazar said she brought her daughter Monica, then an Española Valley High School student, to the Laboratory for a "Take Our Children to Work Day" event in 1996. Albert met Monica Salazar and mentored her for four years.
"Diane just took her by the hand and was instrumental in getting her a job here as a summer student," said Juanita Salazar. "Ever since then I've had a great respect for her knowing that she's helped my daughter. She will always be there to help others, not only females, but any student who wants to start a career in math or science."
Albert said, "I've had a really long history of mentoring, tutoring and working with young girls and encouraging them to go on to higher education. I want them to have the opportunity to talk to women about careers in science. That's why I got nominated and that's why I won. And that's what's important to me."
The Commission on the Status of Women annually honors women from around the state who are actively involved in their communities, are leaders in their profession or occupation and have worked to implement positive change in their community.
Of the 30 women recognized annually, two are selected for induction to the New Mexico Women's Hall of Fame in September.
Albert is active in the Los Alamos League of Women Voters. She also serves on the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Leadership Council and the Advisory Board of the Tri-Area Association for Economic Development (TRADE) to provide more employment opportunities and appropriate economic development in Northern New Mexico.
Albert recently was awarded a $5,000 grant from The Materials Society Foundation to work with Susan Sussman, a fifth-grade teacher in Los Alamos, to develop materials science experiments for elementary school students.
Albert donates her grant-proposal writing skills to the Pojoaque Girls Soccer Boosters and the New Beginnings program at University of New Mexico, Los Alamos. She also volunteers at the Los Alamos Family YMCA as a personal trainer, fitness specialist and indoor cycle instructor.
Albert is vice chairperson of the Los Alamos County Transportation Board and also chairs its Bicycle Subcommittee. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Friends of Bandelier National Monument and the National Council of the National Parks and Conservation Association.
"I am very active in the areas of mentoring and education, protecting the environment and empowerment through political activism and economic self-sufficiency," said Albert.
In 1997, Albert received a resident Fellowship from the National Academy of Engineering and spent six months in Washington, D.C. Through this fellowship, Albert worked with the associate director of the National Academy of Engineering program office on "The Impact of Academic Research on Industrial Performance: A Multi-Industry Study," a project funded by the Alfred Sloan Foundation.
Albert has a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from Ohio State University and a doctoral degree in metallurgical engineering and materials science from Carnegie Mellon University. Albert has worked at the Laboratory since 1993.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and Washington Group International for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.