DETROIT, Mich. – U.S. Navy engineer Tiffany Owens is constantly on the go helping girls envision that “STEM is a girl thing” while enabling them to experience it in their lives.
Once her protégés catch the vision, they are on the go themselves pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities, academics, degrees and careers.
The Women of Color Magazine noticed the engineer’s startling success with inspiring and mentoring students throughout Virginia and honored her with the magazine’s 2016 Community Service Award at its conference, aptly themed: “STEM is a Girl Thing.”
“My mother, a teacher, raised three girls on the east side of Buffalo, New York — we all became engineers,” Owens remarked while accepting her award before a hushed audience at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center during the Women of Color Awards gala, Oct. 15. “She taught us we can do anything we put our minds to, and raised us with confidence, pride and responsibility to ourselves and our community. I will be eternally grateful for her and her advice that drives me to continue to help, give and serve.”
The Women of Color Magazine refers to its annual technology conference as “the forum of choice” for recognizing significant contributions by women in STEM fields. This year’s awards gala theme — “Earned it, Got it, Celebrate it,” — paid tribute to awardees for their commitment, service, and achievements.
“In serving our country as a systems safety engineer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Tiffany Owens has also gone above and beyond in service to her community,” said Karen Davis, Naval Sea Systems Command Executive Director for Surface Warfare, as she introduced Owens. “Her impressive volunteering and mentoring efforts at the Center include her active role in her department¹s Diversity Council and Special Events Committee. But this is just the start of Tiffany¹s strong passion for STEM outreach. She donates countless hours to introducing young people to the world of STEM in the local Dahlgren and Richmond, Va., community and schools to positively impact our next generation.”
Owens led and volunteered for a myriad of STEM activities and programs, including Bring Your Child to Work Day, the Metro Richmond Science Fair, the FIRST Lego League, and FIRST Robotics Competition.
“Tiffany also filled the roles of chartering member, president emeritus, and public relations chair for the Richmond Professionals Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers,” according to the Women of Color Magazine's fall 2016 feature profile on Owens. “She developed and conducted STEM enrichment activities at Richmond and Henrico Public Schools as a volunteer.”
Since 1995, the Women of Color technology conference has attracted and leveraged exceptional talent within the nation’s scientific and technical workforce.
Moreover, attendees benefit from the event’s career networking opportunities. They interact with executives representing Fortune 500 companies that embrace diversity and are recognized as top places for women to work and advance in their careers. College students meet with award winners and learn the next critical steps in forging their own successful careers.
“We are all held responsible for our talents, wealth, knowledge and time,” said Owens as she concluded her speech. “I have been richly blessed. So many people poured into my life, which leaves me with a tremendous responsibility to give back.”
About Women of Color STEM Conference
Career Communications Group's Women of Color Magazine hosts the technology conference which recognizes outstanding women in the STEM fields. It provides excellent opportunities for professional development, networking and recruiting. The conference is focused on the development of STEM women and ensures that the superior achievements and importance of these outstanding women in STEM are highly visible to all conference participants. More on Career Communication Group STEM events: http://intouch.ccgmag.com
About Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division is a premier research and development center that serves as a specialty site for weapon system integration. The command's unique ability to rapidly introduce new technology into complex warfighting systems is based on its longstanding competencies in science and technology, research and development, and test and evaluation. News and information about NSWCDD: http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Dahlgren