Dr. Carol Wellington, professor of computer science, and Dr. Sue Mukherjee, senior vice president for Strategy and Student Success, were honored during the annual Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania Women in Technology (WIT) Awards on September 8. WIT was created to celebrate women innovators, role models, trailblazers and inspirations to the technology community.

Mukherjee was honored with the WIT Impact – Public/Government Sector Award for her nearly two decades of work in the advancement of technology throughout Pennsylvania. Before her time at Ship, she served in the Department of Labor and Industry where she assisted with the implementation of large scale, inter-agency workforce initiatives including Pathways to Advancement, Career Gateway, PA Youth in Transition and the Workforce Advancement Grants of Education. With the Department of Education she worked as the state lead for the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Initiative.

In her current role at Shippensburg University, she handles a wide range of matters of institutional importance including the creation of a data informed platform for noncredit skills building strategy, instituting a modern platform for assessment and institutional effectiveness, and leveraging BOT tech to help with student retention. She also led the university’s recent pivot to hybrid and hyflex learning during the pandemic.

“It is inspiring to be part of the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania community and I commend TCCP’s focus on the power of women. Especially as we come out of this pandemic-driven recession that has been particularly harsh on women. I am thankful for the recognition from TCCP – it really is the result of brilliant teams I have had the privilege of working with and learning from in my years as a public servant. TCCP remind me of a favorite quote from Ntozake Shange ‘Where there is a woman, there is magic!'”

Wellington received the WIT Moxie Award as a pioneer who blazes the trail women in technology. Wellington worked as a software engineer for several years and earned her first software patent in 1987. In 1997 she joined the faculty at Shippensburg University.

Her expertise and leadership of a team of colleagues led to the formation of Shippensburg University’s School of Engineering in 2018, which currently offers five engineering programs, three of which are ABET accredited. She helped to create the computer, software and electrical engineering programs, which at the time were the first such programs in the state system. Carol has also been a positive force in training the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. Her work with students in introductory programming courses led to the publishing of a textbook and the rigor of her senior level courses have been praised by alumni as instrumental in helping them distinguish themselves in interviews and first jobs. Outside of the classroom, she serves as an advisor to Shippensburg’s Women in Computer Science – Engineering group, has coached the programming team, and serves as director of the Broadside Center, an entity that engages Shippensburg University faculty and students with industry partners so that students gain real world experience.

“I’m honored by this award because I have never thought of myself as a trailblazer. When I went into computer science, I didn’t know women didn’t do that. I picked it because cool people were building cool things and I wanted to be one of them. If, along the way, other women have seen me and decided they could do it, too, I am incredibly honored by that legacy,” said Wellington.