Dean an inspiration for women in engineering

Curiosity at a young age

When did you first become interested in engineering? For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about engineering and understanding systems. One of my first memories is feeding electrical wiring through the fire wall of a Triumph TR3 sports car my father was restoring.

Later, I did a summer work term at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta, a fighter aircraft base located near the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range where pilots go to practise. This base is one of two in the country that houses CF188 aircraft. The types of missions the CF188s flew in the squadrons were based on the Fatigue Life Expended Index (which measures how long until failure at a particular stress level), upcoming maintenance requirements and possible configurations.

My lived experiences and the limitless opportunities to solve system-based problems fostered my love of engineering.

What’s engineering about?

“To me, engineering is about creative problem solving and consulting with others to determine risk and manage it effectively. It’s a very broad discipline – with many branches – but essentially designing and manufacturing solutions to make our world a better place.”

For instance, I reviewed and approved all the structural modifications made to a T133 Silver Star aircraft so it could be used as an experimental test bed to analyze and improve ejection seats.

I participated as a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) representative on a multi-national team, conducting a full-scale fatigue test and residual stress test of a CP140 Aurora. We identified structural life degradation and designed repairs so the fleet could continue to fly safely.

I also helped design and test virtual training simulators so technicians could practise and enhance their skills on infrequently conducted but high-risks tasks.

Passion to follow your dreams

Did you pursue engineering in school? I earned my Bachelor of Engineering – Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada. Then, my Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. For my thesis, I studied multiaxial fatigue in induction hardened shafts: using surface treatments to prolong the fatigue life of a component and reducing weight in a predictable manner.

In 2012, I obtained a Master in Defence Studies, with my thesis titled Lighting the 8th Fire – Building Harmony amongst the Canadian Armed Forces and the Inuit in the Arctic. While at 4 Wing, I committed to meaningful consultation with local Indigenous communities to learn about their land usage and history. It fostered in me a desire to pursue further studies as I believe in lifelong learning and a connection to people.

We hear engineering is one of the toughest fields. Do you agree?

“I’ve always enjoyed investigating and understanding systems so for me, I gravitated toward engineering. I appreciate the challenges presented and the opportunities to work within a team to find solutions. I’ve never considered it tough but it does require effort, dedication and passion to follow your dreams.”

Tell us a little bit about your career. I served for 27 years in the RCAF as an aerospace engineer. I held various roles, including Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Manager for a multitude of aircraft types, Senior Aide de Camp to the Governor General, Commanding Officer of 10 Field Technical Training Squadron, and Mission Support Division Chief.

I was also highly involved with modernizing, optimizing and blending synthetic training environments and simulation with traditional methodologies to enhance learning outcomes. This is especially important as it allows for experimentation and creativity in a risk-free, extremely flexible learning environment.

Learning can be adapted and personalized through the clever use of technological advancements for diverse trainees. Post analysis of training can be facilitated by play-back options and associated discussions allowing for continuous improvement. I think the digital innovation strategy underway at Georgian presents similar opportunities.

What inspired you to join the RCAF? My interest in the military stems back to my great-grandmother who served as a nurse at Vimy Ridge, and my grandfather. I was always entertained by stories of my grandfather’s adventures as a tail gunner during the Second World War in the Lancaster and Halifax bombers as well as the stories of his friends.

We heard you’ve been recognized with 20+ honours. Is that true? Yes. Among them the 2018 Women in Defence Award; Canadian NORAD Region Senior Officer Award (not normally awarded to an engineer); Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Postgraduate Scholarships A and B; and Canadian Engineering Memorial Foundation Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Scholarship.

“To me, these honours showed that my dedication and efforts were recognized within my peer group as valued contributions. They also confirm I was, indeed, making the world a better place.”

How did you make the move from RCAF to associate dean at Georgian? My bucket list always included working in formal training environments. I believe training allows people to increase the number of tools in their toolkit and leads to improved quality of life.

In the military, I was in charge of a training squadron responsible for technical CF188 training from basic servicing (parks and starts) to highly specialized training (ejection seat installation).

I served as the Director, Air Force Technical Training, responsible for 26 occupations ranging from firefighter to construction engineer.

I was the Exercise and Training Branch Head of the RCAF Aerospace Warfare Centre. I oversaw a team that planned strategic-level exercises. This included optimizing and enabling training of personnel assigned to small detachments up to Air Task Forces operating in a multitude of environments, ranging from disaster relief to conflict zones.

These experiences helped prepare me for my role as an associate dean. 

What does your role entail? I manage day-to-day operations of the Engineering and Environmental Technologies program areas at the Barrie Campus. A large part of my role is establishing and strengthening relationships with faculty, students, employers and the community. I especially enjoy working with students when they’re facing challenges, and collaborating with other student stakeholders at Georgian so students can achieve their dreams.

Every day, I learn from the talented team I work with. I use my engineering experience and knowledge to discuss new academic program alignment with current changes in the market as well as facilitate curriculum review and procurement in support of existing programs.

What’s your experience been like at Georgian so far? I started at Georgian six months before the COVID-19 pandemic and then we transitioned to working, teaching and studying remotely. I’ve had the opportunity to be continuously amazed at what a wonderful institution I’ve joined and how student-focused the team continues to be. I’m enjoying this journey!

Engineering-related programs at Georgian

Does the college offer any engineering programs? Yes, we do. For example, check out our:

Diplomas (2 years)

• Architectural Technician (co-op)
• Civil Engineering Technician (co-op)
• Electrical Engineering Technician (co-op)
• Environmental Technician (co-op)

Advanced diplomas (3 years)

• Architectural Technology (co-op)
• Civil Engineering Technology (co-op)
• Electrical Engineering Technology (co-op)
• Environmental Technology (co-op)
• Electromechanical Engineering Technology – Mechatronics (co-op)
• Marine Engineering Technology (co-op)
• Mechanical Engineering Technology (co-op)
• Power Engineering Technology (co-op)

Degrees (4 years)

• Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) Degree with Electrical Engineering Technology Advanced Diploma
• Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science – Environmental Sustainability (Specialization in Ecosystem Management) Degree with Environmental Technician Diploma

Opportunities for women

Women in engineering are often still the minority, despite the fantastic career opportunities available. Why do you think that is? I think there’s a lack of awareness regarding the amazing and diverse career opportunities available.

To me, there seems to be a shortage of female role models to help encourage young women to consider that they too can be engineers. I’m a firm believer that you need to see it to believe it.

What would you say to a woman who wants to pursue a career in engineering? I would say, “Go for it.”

“Make sure you love what you do both professionally and in your personal time. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and enhance your life.”