(L-R): Ellen Ernst Kossek, a fellow recipient; Patrice Buzzanell, fellow recipient and Holloway’s friend and PhD co-advisor; Beth Holloway, Leah H. Jamieson Director of Women in Engineering; Jane Zimmer Daniels, director emeritus of the Women in Engineering program and a previous Title IX Distinguished Service Award recipient; and Leah H. Jamieson, Purdue College of Engineering dean emeritus, previous recipient, and part of Holloway’s PhD committee.

Purdue University’s Women in Engineering (WiE) Program was founded in 1969, three years before Title IX — a comprehensive federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity — was signed into law by President Richard Nixon.

For context, in 1969, the Purdue Engineering student body comprised less than 1% women. In Fall 2022, women represented 26% of all undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering. Over the last 10 years, the number of women enrolled in the College has increased 85%.

The university recently celebrated 50 years of Title IX by honoring 14 recipients with Title IX Distinguished Service Awards. Beth Holloway, the Leah H. Jamieson Director of Women in Engineering since 2001, was recognized at the award reception Feb. 28 at Dauch Alumni Center for her significant contributions to the advancement of gender equality in higher education. The event was sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, Office of the Provost, the systemwide departments of Intercollegiate Athletics and the systemwide offices of Institutional Equity.

“I am honored to be recognized for contributions to gender equity in engineering both at Purdue and nationally, and to join the group of current and previous awardees who have made such a significant impact,” Holloway said.

Holloway gave remarks after being presented the Title IX Distinguished Service Award.

In addition to her WiE role, Holloway is a professor of engineering practice in the School of Mechanical Engineering and assistant dean of engineering for diversity and engagement. Under her leadership, WiE has commenced a variety of engagement programs to spark girls’ interest in engineering from an early age. For example, Engineering FYI is geared toward students who will be starting seventh, eighth and ninth grades, and Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day is geared toward ninth and 10th graders. In each program, girls have opportunities to learn, discover and explore aspects of engineering and connect with others who share the same aspirations.

Once students arrive on campus, WiE’s work continues in full force. The staff strives to build a community that promotes a sense of belonging and encourages young women to reach their full potential. Through mentoring, leadership opportunities, professional development and networking with alumnae and companies, the program offers women a wealth of resources to succeed. At least two-thirds of female engineering graduates are involved in WiE in some way during their time at Purdue.

Outside of Purdue, Holloway is a nationally recognized leader in diversity in engineering, particularly gender in engineering. She has served in leadership positions in the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and has shared her expertise with numerous projects sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Engineers.

Purdue’s Title IX Distinguished Service Awards are presented every five years. Recipients are recognized for sustained accomplishments in one or more of the following areas:

• Maximizing institutional and/or societal resources to broaden access and opportunity to women in higher education.

• Expanding the range and quality of the female undergraduate or graduate student experience at Purdue.

• Contributing to the achievement of gender equity at all levels of the academic community.

• Contributing to the advancement of women in intercollegiate athletics.

• Providing local and/or national leadership on issues related to gender equity in education at all levels.

Holloway is the recipient of many other national and local awards, including Fellow of ASEE; Fellow Grade Award from SWE; Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity and Inclusion from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET); William Elgin Wickenden Award from ASEE; WEPAN Distinguished Service and Founders awards; Phi Sigma Rho Order of the Pyramid Award; SWE Outstanding Faculty Advisor of the Year Award; and the Purdue Panhellenic Outstanding Advisor Award.

A Purdue alumna, Holloway earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and her PhD in engineering education.

(L-R) Provost Patrick J. Wolfe; Holloway; Christie Wright, director of the Office of Institutional Equity; and Alysa Christmas Rollock, vice president for ethics and compliance.