OU’s Hammerle Lecture to spotlight diversity in STEM fields

Dr. Pamela McCauley will present “Seeing Beyond Us: True Diversity,” highlighting the importance of diversity in STEM education, leadership and innovation.

Dr. Pamela McCauley, a renowned biomechanics, ergonomics and human factors expert, will be the featured speaker when Oakland University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science presents its 2014 Hammerle Lecture.

The event will take place from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22 in the Oakland Center Banquet Room A. Now in its 27th year, the lecture series features talks from innovative thinkers who are focused on solving contemporary challenges across various fields.

Dr. McCauley’s presentation, “Seeing Beyond Us: True Diversity,” will highlight the importance of diversity in STEM education, leadership and innovation. She will discuss the state of STEM Education and leadership diversity around the globe, along with proven strategies to help individuals, organizations and communities reap the benefits of diversity principles and practices.

“The OU community is excited to welcome Dr. McCauley for an engaging talk on a critical topic,” said Jared Oluoch, president of OU’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers. “She will draw upon her decades of experience to encourage underrepresented students to pursue STEM programs and share her insights on how diversity in the STEM field can drive innovation around the world.”

Dr. McCauley is a nationally-recognized speaker, an award-winning educator and a full professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems at the University of Central Florida. She has earned numerous accolades for teaching, research and service, including the Distinguished Engineering Educator of the Year Award from the Society of Women Engineers Central Florida section; Engineer of the Year Award from the Florida Engineering Society; and the Fulbright Specialist Award from the U.S. Fulbright Scholar program.

A pioneer in her field, Dr. McCauley is the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Engineering in the State of Oklahoma and, according to the National Science Foundation, is one of only a handful of African American women in the nation to hold the rank of full professor of engineering. In 2013, she received a Top Woman in Technology Award from Connected World Magazine.

Dr. McCauley is the author of Ergonomics: Foundational Principles, Applications, and Technologies, a textbook that is used on college campuses around the world. She also published Transforming your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation, a research-based book on successful leadership strategies and principles. Her memoir, “Winners Don’t Quit…Today they call me Doctor,” tells how she overcame adversity to become a distinguished leader in academia and beyond.
Following the presentation, Dr. McCauley will be available for a book signing.

Established in 1987, the lecture is named in honor of the late Dr. William G. Hammerle, founding professor of engineering at Oakland University. The series hosts presenters who reflect Dr. Hammerle’s creative approach to problem-solving.
Sponsored by the OU chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery-Women and the Society of Women Engineers, the lecture is free and open to the public.

For additional information, contact the School of Engineering and Computer Science at (248) 370-2217. To register to attend, email SECSDean@oakland.edu.