04
May
2023
|
17:30 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

ChemE Student Vidhya Thiyagarajan Elected as SWE’s Collegiate Director

Thiyagarajan is planning to foster more connections between SWE’s collegiate and professional members as well as its global affiliates during her tenure as its collegiate director

Vidhya Thiyagarajan, a rising senior studying chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, knew she wanted to join the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) since high school. 

Now, she’s about to take part in leading the international organization as its elected collegiate director and will serve on its Board of Directors. 

“The Swanson School and PittSWE have prepared me for a position like this,” said Thiyagarajan, who currently serves as PittSWE’s vice president. “In the classroom, my professors have emphasized a team-centered and inclusive approach to leadership, and I’m excited to bring that concept to SWE at-large.” 

In her new role, Thiyagarajan will be representing the interests of approximately 20,000 collegiate students throughout the world. Personally, she’s hoping to expose these students to the countless opportunities SWE has to offer and forge more global connections between these students.  

“SWE has a presence in more than 80 countries,” Thiyagarajan said. “We need to leverage those relationships to learn more about what engineering looks like in different areas of the world as well as understand how another culture can influence engineering design.” 

Dhanu and Vidhya

Thiyagarajan’s appointment is no surprise for her mentor, Taryn Bayles. 

“She’s incredibly involved at the Swanson School – from SWE to being a teaching assistant,” said Bayles, professor of chemical and petroleum engineering and vice chair for undergraduate education at the Swanson School. “Beyond her extensive service, she is an extraordinary student with a near-perfect 4.0 GPA. Between her undergraduate research and success in co-op rotations, she truly excels in all that she undertakes!” 

Leadership in SWE is quickly becoming a trend in Thiyagarajan’s family. Her older sister, Dhanu Thiyag, served as president of PittSWE during her tenure at the Swanson School. Thiyagarajan credits her sister with being the first to introduce her to the organization. Thiyag, who is seven years older, knew because of their shared desire to help the world, engineering would be a good fit for her younger sister like it was for herself.

Leadership in SWE is quickly becoming a trend in Thiyagarajan’s family. Her older sister, Dhanu Thiyag, served as president of PittSWE during her tenure at the Swanson School. Thiyagarajan credits her sister with being the first to introduce her to the organization. Thiyag, who is seven years older, knew because of their shared desire to help the world, engineering would be a good fit for her younger sister like it was for herself. 

I wanted her to know about engineering as a career option as early as possible since I didn't have these types of opportunities when I was her age,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud to see her achieving a position like this after working so incredibly hard.” 

After years of being involved in SWE, both at PittSWE and within the Society, this position feels like a calling for Vidhya. 

“This organization’s mission is to empower women in STEM,” Thiyagarajan said. “I feel proud to be part of and lead that movement.”