Women Alumni

• Women in Engineering
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• Women Alumni
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Women Alumni

Heather M. Clark
Design Engineer

Teamwork is an vital part of engineering. "The most interesting and challenging aspect of my job is working with various people to implement a new methodology." Ms. Clark is currently a design engineer at Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland. The semiconductors Fairchild produces are used in the telecommunications, consumer, industrial, personal computer, digital video and automotive markets. Part of Clark's mission is improving the development process.

She believes that being on of the few women in electrical engineering is a great motivator. "I want to be a role model for the young women looking at careers in engineering. There are not enough role models out there for girls to choose a career in electrical engineering." Clark received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1997. She is originally from Sherman Mills, Maine.

Janis Piper, P.E.
Highway Designer

"It is a great feeling to drive down a road or enter a structure and know that you had a part in creating it," says Ms. Piper, a highway designer for the Maine Department of Transportation in Bangor. She likes to remind people that civil engineering effects everything that makes your day happen: roads, bridges and rails; water supply and sewage disposal; and keeping the environment clean. Engineering is everywhere!

An important part of engineering is team work—every project she works on is done as a team. "Making sound judgments and having the strength to stand behind [them helps women succeed in any career]." Piper received a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1991 and a M.S. in Civil Engineering in 1995. She is from Newburgh, Maine.

Christine Born Johnson
Marketing Specialist

In the consumer marketing department at Bell Atlantic in Boston, Ms. Johnson helps to bridge the gap between the technical world of engineering and the company's consumers. Her background in engineering is an important part of her career. Every day brings something different: training new employees, attending meetings with engineers, solving problems with customers, traveling or telecommuting from home.

"My major motivation...was a desire to learn new things," said Johnson. Computers are critical in her career, and she has had to keep on top of new technology. "Learning does not end with the completion of formal education."

At Bell Atlantic, Johnson feels that she learns something new everyday. "That is an empowering feeling. I get to work with technology, but I also get to translate that technology into solutions." She earned a B.S. Civil Engineering in 1982 and M.B.A. from Worcester Polytech in 1989. She is originally from Westbrook, Maine.

Kendra Crocker
Process Engineer

"Seeing all the automation we have, and all that it can do, is fascinating and fun to watch." Crocker works in National Semiconductor's state-of-the-art facility in South Portland.

The presentation skills and leadership capabilities Crocker developed while at MAINE are critical in her job as a process engineer. She oversees part of the manufacturing process and is responsible for keeping it running smoothly. She works with operators and technicians on a daily basis as the first line of defense for fixing problems. Organizational skills and an understanding of computers are also important. "Computers are everywhere here, they are used for normal applications like data analysis and email, but they also store all of the data that we generate."

Crocker graduated from UMaine with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1998. She grew up in Lee, Maine.

Lisa Downs
Environmental Scientist

"The most important thing I learned at UMaine was problem solving skills," said Downs, a research assistant at the Water Research Institute at the University of Maine. She uses her environmental engineering background in her work investigating contaminants such as dioxin and mercury in Maine's fish population. Her responsibilities include preparing the samples, analyzing them with complex equipment, analyzing and interpreting the data she records and report preparation.

At the WRI, there are equal numbers of men and women and all make important contributions to the research projects the Institute is working on. "Women have important contributions to make in all fields, and engineering is one of the few areas that is still male dominated." Downs received her B.S. and M.S. in civil engineering from the University of Maine in 1993 and 1996, respectively. She grew up in Maine and now lives in Orono.

Cassie Magoon
Construction Manager

Cassie is forging ground as a female in a construction field. Of her career choice, she says "It challenges me, and forces me to look at things in a different way. I truly feel that it makes me do my best." Since real world experience is very important in construction, she had several co-op jobs. They helped her land a great job as a Field Engineer at J.A. Jones in Charlotte, North Carolina. "I'm really excited about all of the challenges and opportunities that [my career will] bring me in the future.

She earned a B.S. in Construction Management Technology with a minor in business in May 1999. Cassie is originally from Harmony, Maine.

Jessica Reynolds
Manufacturing Engineer

"Go Big or Stay Home" is Jessica's motto for success and she will certainly be doing that as a manufacturing engineer. Shortly after graduation, she began designing airplane engines for Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut. She's always asking "How does that work?...Why does they work?...If I change this, what will happen?" These questions are a routine part of engineering and essential for success.

"My most important professional experiences so far have come from working on co-operative education jobs." Jessica strongly believes that having co-op experiences on her resume was the key to getting a great job. Originally from Winslow, Maine, she earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in May 1999.

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