LATROBE, PA—Dr. Stacy Birmingham, professor of engineering and James F. Will Endowed Chair of Engineering in the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing was presented with the 13th annual Projektenmacher Award in recognition of initiatives that, in the spirit of founder Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, “brought vision to reality through hard work and perseverance.”
Saint Vincent College’s president Rev. Paul R. Taylor, O.S.B, presented Dr. Birmingham with the award at the Founders’ Day Honors Convocation on Thursday, Nov. 16, in the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica.
Prior to presenting her with the award, Fr. Paul lauded Dr. Birmingham’s “hard work, leadership, grit and grace” in working to get the College’s engineering program accredited by ABET, an international accrediting organization that accredits programs in applied and natural science, computing, engineering and engineering technology. Saint Vincent’s engineering program received formal accreditation from ABET on Sept. 23, 2023.
“For your dreams, Dr. Stacy Birmingham, dreams that you have brought to reality, we congratulate you,” said Fr. Paul. “Saint Vincent College is honored to present to you the 2023 Projektenmacher Award.”
“I’m very humbled and honored to receive [the Projektenmacher Award], and I have been blessed to lead the effort to grow and accredit the engineering program,” explained Dr. Birmingham before expressing her thanks to Dr. Stephen Jodis, dean of the Boyer School, her fellow engineering professors, supporters of the engineering program and those who laid the foundation for beginning the accreditation process before she came to Saint Vincent.
Dr. Birmingham went on to explain that she had spent many hours over the past five years working on ABET-related tasks and that she was grateful to her family for their support during that time. “During those last five years,” said Dr. Birmingham, “my family coined a new verb: ‘ABETting,’ as in, ‘Mom is ABETting right now, and she can’t answer the phone,’.”
About Dr. Birmingham
Dr. Stacy G. Birmingham is the James F. Will Professor of Engineering and the Chair of the Engineering Department at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. She was previously the Dean of the Albert A. Hopeman, Jr., School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics at Grove City College and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. She began her academic career at The University of Michigan, where she held tenured positions in both the Chemical Engineering and Macromolecular Science & Engineering Departments. She received her B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Notable awards include the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation and the 38E Award for Teaching and Service from the University of Michigan. As Dean at Grove City College, she more than doubled the STEM major and minor offerings of the college and developed numerous P-12 STEM outreach programs for local schools. As Chair at Saint Vincent College, she is engaged in building a new four-year engineering program. Research interests include issues central to the work-life balance of women engineering and technology faculty and developing and assessing innovative pedagogies for engineering instruction.
PHOTO: Dr. Birmingham poses for a photo alongside Dr. John Delaney and Fr. Paul.