2012 Women of Innovation Awards Winners
Left to right:
Research Innovation and Leadership
Amy Anderson, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut. Ms. Anderson leads a UCONN research group to discover and develop novel drugs for treating infectious diseases and cancer as well as understand and overcome mechanisms of drug resistance.
Collegian Innovation and Leadership
Nicole Wagner, Graduate Student- Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut. As CEO of LambdaVision, a company that is a direct outgrowth of her graduate studies, Ms. Wagner is working on getting her company’s protein-based retinal implant through preclinical trials.
Large Business Innovation and Leadership
Elizabeth Garypie, Black Hawk Chief Engineer, Sikorsky Aircraft. As chief engineer for Sikorsky’s Army & Air Force programs, Ms. Garypie provides overall technical leadership for domestic BLACK HAWK development and production programs, including the UH-60M, HH-60M MEDEVAC, UH-60M Upgrade, and future product requirements.
Community Innovation and Leadership
Kimberley McLean, Principal Engineer, Electric Boat. Ms. McLean has been working with the Girl Scouts for almost 20 years to develop and present STEM programs for girls of all ages. She has provided opportunities for girls at camp to learn about astronomy and the use of telescopes.
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Susan Brown, Teacher - Applied Technology, New Haven Public Schools-Mauro Sheridan Magnet School. As a science, technology and robotics teacher for middle school students in New Haven, Ms. Brown is passionate about teaching children how to think, create, and find their authentic selves.
Public Sector Innovation and Leadership
Deb Santy, Director, Connecticut SBIR Office. Under Ms. Santy’s leadership, the Connecticut SBIR Office has helped high-tech small businesses and entrepreneurs compete for and win federal SBIR/STTR awards. Her office also facilitates commercialization by collaborating with industry, government and academia.
Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership
Jyl Camhi, Founder and President, Great Play. Ms. Camhi has developed a unique interactive children's gym called Great Play that helps develop motor skills, sport skills, fitness and coordination. Great Play has been named one of the most innovative brands in youth fitness worldwide.
Youth Innovation and Leadership
Mary Kuchenbrod, High School Student, GHAMAS (Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science). Ms. Kuchenbrod conducted her own high school research to test the early development of zebra fish embryos in environments that mimic that of a developing human fetus whose mother is consuming alcohol or caffeine, as well as environments that test the effects of progesterone pollution in water systems.
Small Business Innovation and Leadership
Betsy Didan, Vice President, COCC. Ms. Didan develops, promotes and supports technologies to reduce paper and increase payment speed and security for community banks and credit unions for COCC customers in the Northeast.
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Joan Feigenbaum, The Grace Murray Hopper Professor of Computer Science, Yale University. Ms. Feigenbaum conducts research that includes Internet algorithmics, security and privacy, massive data-set algorithmics and the interplay of economics and computation.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Alicia Abella, Executive Director of the Innovative Services Research Department , AT&T Labs and Chair of its Fellowship Program.
Dr. Abella manages a group of researchers specializing in data mining, user interfaces, IPTV, mobile services, SIP/VoIP technology, and environmental sustainability. She is also executive vice president for the Young Science Achievers program and a strong advocate of fostering the development of minorities and women in science and engineering. In 2011, President Obama named Dr. Abella to his Presidential Advisory Commission for Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
2012 Women of Innovation Awards Winners
Left to right:
Research Innovation and Leadership
Amy Anderson, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut. Ms. Anderson leads a UCONN research group to discover and develop novel drugs for treating infectious diseases and cancer as well as understand and overcome mechanisms of drug resistance.
Collegian Innovation and Leadership
Nicole Wagner, Graduate Student- Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut. As CEO of LambdaVision, a company that is a direct outgrowth of her graduate studies, Ms. Wagner is working on getting her company’s protein-based retinal implant through preclinical trials.
Large Business Innovation and Leadership
Elizabeth Garypie, Black Hawk Chief Engineer, Sikorsky Aircraft. As chief engineer for Sikorsky’s Army & Air Force programs, Ms. Garypie provides overall technical leadership for domestic BLACK HAWK development and production programs, including the UH-60M, HH-60M MEDEVAC, UH-60M Upgrade, and future product requirements.
Community Innovation and Leadership
Kimberley McLean, Principal Engineer, Electric Boat. Ms. McLean has been working with the Girl Scouts for almost 20 years to develop and present STEM programs for girls of all ages. She has provided opportunities for girls at camp to learn about astronomy and the use of telescopes.
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Susan Brown, Teacher - Applied Technology, New Haven Public Schools-Mauro Sheridan Magnet School. As a science, technology and robotics teacher for middle school students in New Haven, Ms. Brown is passionate about teaching children how to think, create, and find their authentic selves.
Public Sector Innovation and Leadership
Deb Santy, Director, Connecticut SBIR Office. Under Ms. Santy’s leadership, the Connecticut SBIR Office has helped high-tech small businesses and entrepreneurs compete for and win federal SBIR/STTR awards. Her office also facilitates commercialization by collaborating with industry, government and academia.
Entrepreneurial Innovation and Leadership
Jyl Camhi, Founder and President, Great Play. Ms. Camhi has developed a unique interactive children's gym called Great Play that helps develop motor skills, sport skills, fitness and coordination. Great Play has been named one of the most innovative brands in youth fitness worldwide.
Youth Innovation and Leadership
Mary Kuchenbrod, High School Student, GHAMAS (Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science). Ms. Kuchenbrod conducted her own high school research to test the early development of zebra fish embryos in environments that mimic that of a developing human fetus whose mother is consuming alcohol or caffeine, as well as environments that test the effects of progesterone pollution in water systems.
Small Business Innovation and Leadership
Betsy Didan, Vice President, COCC. Ms. Didan develops, promotes and supports technologies to reduce paper and increase payment speed and security for community banks and credit unions for COCC customers in the Northeast.
Academic Innovation and Leadership
Joan Feigenbaum, The Grace Murray Hopper Professor of Computer Science, Yale University. Ms. Feigenbaum conducts research that includes Internet algorithmics, security and privacy, massive data-set algorithmics and the interplay of economics and computation.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Alicia Abella, Executive Director of the Innovative Services Research Department , AT&T Labs and Chair of its Fellowship Program.
Dr. Abella manages a group of researchers specializing in data mining, user interfaces, IPTV, mobile services, SIP/VoIP technology, and environmental sustainability. She is also executive vice president for the Young Science Achievers program and a strong advocate of fostering the development of minorities and women in science and engineering. In 2011, President Obama named Dr. Abella to his Presidential Advisory Commission for Educational Excellence for Hispanics.