Women of the UA Tech Park 2023

Throughout the month of March, the world has reflected on women who furthered women’s rights, equality and representation. But, how do we celebrate the women who aren’t in the spotlight? At Tech Parks Arizona we celebrate the women who usually don’t get the acknowledgment they deserve like the woman sitting next to you, the one who signs your paycheck, and most importantly, the one reading these words right now - You! The mighty women of the UA Tech Park 2023 have been showcased nearly every day. Read their inspiring stories about beating the odds and how they pave the way for future generations. Take time to appreciate personal accomplishments and reflect on how we individually overcome obstacles. So, to close out our celebration of Women’s History Month, we’d like to remind you why today—and every day forward—isn’t just for the big names out there. It’s for all of us. Celebrate your greatness. Remember you can do anything!

Join the conversation and empower these women by engaging on the Tech Parks Arizona social media pages: 
LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Diana Coronado

Vice President - Customer Experience Lead Analyst, Citi

I am a woman of representation. Being a black-Hispanic, queer, neurodivergent woman in the workplace allows me to be a voice of diversity and inclusivity, but most importantly it provides a platform to showcase representation. It is important for me to show up as my authentic self every day because there are many who can’t or have not yet built enough strength to fully represent themselves. For many years, I was one of the silent ones, so I know firsthand the toll it takes on our mind, body and spirit to mask and conform to a societal standard. Through my journey of introspection and having my life turned upside down more than once is where I found the strength to fight for what I stand and represent. Today, I stand tall and unapologetic for who I am. I am a strong woman who has found comfort in her own skin. I am the woman I searched for when I was a little girl. I am the Phoenix who has risen from the ashes ready to instill power in other women!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brenda Holmes

VP of Hardware Development, Doppler Systems
 
I am a woman of gratitude. When you think of people who inspire and promote women in STEM, who comes to mind? Most often, it is women role models and champions of girls in STEM. For me, I think about my father. He was a key player in my interest in STEM growing up. His enthusiasm and love of his work inspired me. He also took me to his “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” where I was hooked after sitting through my first engineering meeting and reading his technical reports. His continuing support and love encourage me to this day and keeps me pushing forward in my career.  I would like us to recognize the importance of men in this support network. I believe that the influence of a father on their daughters can create an impact which sprouts and promotes the growth of young minds. For me, being a woman in STEM means having the ability to shape the future and to inspire my children. I’d like to say thank you to all the fathers who are supporting their kids, encouraging them to achieve in STEM. You are inspiring the minds of your children every day. You are sparking something in them that inspires and creates the best version of them. The love from a father is something that is incomparable, inspiring, and can generate the best feelings in the world. Thank you to fathers everywhere who are supporting their daughters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alexandra Trujillo

Collector 5 Specialist, Citi
 
People think of Latina women as being fiery and fierce, which is usually true. But I think the quality that so many Latinas possess is vigor. Throughout my career, some of the biggest obstacles that I have faced relate to the fact that I am a young Latina woman. Many people doubted my ability to create or sustain a team to make my vision become a reality. They questioned my credentials and whether I could be the kind of leader worth investing in. Citi has given me the voice I need and the opportunity to truly showcase who I am. I am not afraid to reach my goals, let alone overachieve. As an immigrant to the US, I know the challenges we all will encounter too well, especially for minority groups. The road will not always be smooth, and regardless of your cultural background, you should believe in yourself. By placing value on yourself, you take the first step in showing the world your potential and strength and that will always shine through to help you achieve!
 
La gente piensa que las mujeres latinas son fogosas y feroces, lo cual suele ser cierto. Pero creo que la cualidad que poseen tantas latinas es el vigor. A lo largo de mi carrera, algunos de los mayores obstáculos que he enfrentado se relacionan con el hecho de que soy una joven latina. Mucha gente dudaba de mi capacidad para crear o mantener un equipo para hacer realidad mi visión. Cuestionaron mis credenciales y si yo podía ser el tipo de líder en el que valía la pena invertir. Citi me ha dado la voz que necesito y la oportunidad de mostrar realmente quién soy. No tengo miedo de alcanzar mis metas, y mucho menos de superarlas. Como inmigrante a los conozco muy bien los desafíos que todos enfrentaremos, especialmente para los grupos minoritarios. El camino no siempre será fácil e independientemente de tu origen cultural, debes creer en ti mismo. Al valorarte a ti mismo, das el primer paso para mostrarle al mundo tu potencial y fortaleza, ¡y eso siempre brillará para ayudarte a lograrlo!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carmen Otero

Program Coordinator, Steward Observatory

I am a woman of ambition, my motto is “where there is a will, there is a way”. I’m driven by my desire for success: seeing a job well done, protecting those that need help and knowing my family is happy and healthy. To me, being a woman in STEM means overcoming the stigma that women are fragile or weak. We are challenged to earn respect, find our self-worth, and remain motivated after jumping through so many hurdles in life. My story stems from simultaneously having a family, working fulltime, and attending night school to complete my degree. The difficulties I faced and saw other women facing in life encouraged me to change careers and get into STEM. My intentions and dreams have been fortified in challenges I’ve endured and overcome. The strong woman you see before you will continue to grow and change the world around her!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris Telford

Director, DS8k and TS7700 Development, IBM

I have been called a fearless woman! I have blazed my own trails in the world of STEM. I always excelled in math, and when my small town in Nebraska purchased five computers for the local high school, I was one of the lucky ones chosen to learn some programming. Hello world!! That was the moment I realized my passion for technology and that I wanted to pursue my degree in Computer Science. This passion served me well over the last 32 years in my career at IBM. Some may call me outspoken and boisterous, but that doesn’t hold me back! I know it’s important to show other women that my voice needs to be heard and my opinion matters. I try to lead the way by inspiring others to speak up for what they believe in and not hold back. This doesn’t just apply to women; I want everyone to realize and know their voice should be heard. When everyone contributes their best, the result is truly amazing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darcelle Knights-Urbano

​Principal Specialist, Raytheon Technologies

I am a woman of confidence and dedication. Each day I wake up, I intentionally prepare to be my best self in any capacity – as a leader, employee, mom, wife, daughter and sister. I find purpose in showing the best part of me in all that I do. I stand firm in the woman I am. I don’t change myself to conform to someone else’s perception or standards. I learned at an early age that you win some, and you lose some; no matter what you do, there will always be people that may not agree with you. So, I just live life being the best, most honest person that I can be while I stand firm in my values. As a woman in the IT world, it’s challenging when you are in the room and others assume the male is in charge. In most cases they eventually realize the error however, it would be wonderful if one day we move away from these assumptions to be respectful of all individuals in the room regardless of gender. I’d prefer if they asked the question outright! It’s always better to ask and acknowledge than assume and dismiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Esli Rios

​Environmental Engineer, Jacobs

I am a woman of resilience. When I was 12 years old, I moved from Mexico to Texas and knew nothing about finding success in the American school system. From earning good grades to being accepted into a favorable college, I was completely lost.  My mom didn’t know English, so my sister was the one who stepped up and taught me to be levelheaded in these situations.  She showed me what she already knew and coached me in the things I needed to know. In college, I was drawn to pursue an engineering degree then thrown into the male dominated industry and classes, fighting to find my place in that world. I had a teacher who would talk football with the guys in class then turn to me to ask what kind of sewing machine I had. I was taken aback by the condescension, as if my gender had anything to do with my ability.  Fortunately, I had a wonderful mentor who had my back, telling this teacher how I was not only an incredibly capable woman, but also one of the top students in my class. Eventually I found my way into construction, and I found a home in the colleagues and work we were doing.  While it is still a male dominated field, I was welcomed to ask questions and learn new skills rather than already needing to know everything to prove myself.  I’ve never felt out of place here. I realize in reflecting on all that I have overcome, I want to thank and repay the women who supported my growth into a strong woman of STEM by becoming that mentor to other young girls.  I want to show them that others cannot define their intelligence and character, that a woman can not only find comfort, security and passion in a typically male dominated career, but can thrive there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Theresa Brown​

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM

I am a woman of diversity and vibrancy.  I live life to the fullest, shining my light everywhere I go. I grew up absorbing two cultural stories.  As a Black and Asian-American woman, I have not typically been recognized as a part of both cultures. I believe it is important for everyone to be able to thrive in their environment and be a part of the community. I have spoken to numerous individuals about how they can change their lives to be more self-determined. Through tenacity and grit I have built my career and strive to see others achieve the same success.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brandi Polanco​

StormBreaker® LIT PME, ME/PE Functional Lead - SIC, Raytheon Technologies

I am a woman of compassion. I place value on the time I spend with others, spanning from giving back to my community, enjoying time with my boys and my husband, and bringing the work family together for something fun. I find success in being present and accomplished throughout aspects of my life; a devoted mother and a dedicated career woman who loves coming into work every day. Being a woman in STEM is such an honor to me. I realize that this was not always an option for women in history. It’s empowering to contribute to bigger things, things that can change lives. My father is a retired Chief Engineer and I look up to him. His inspiration brought me to the career I love, and I realize that I can be a role model for the next generation of engineers. I hope that I can inspire someone as much as I have been inspired by others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angela Pholphiboun

Program Director, z/OS Software, IBM

I am a woman of tenacity. Throughout my life I have pushed to be the best version of myself. I became a mother at a young age; raising my children and pursuing a degree at the same time presented me with challenges that grew me as a professional, a care giver, and most of all a WOMAN. I held to my core values knowing I could achieve despite any odds against me, self-motivating and supporting myself to pursue STEM. I have always been data driven; I love researching, gathering information, and analyzing facts to determine what should and could be done. As a professional woman in STEM I have faced challenges, but I see them as opportunities to grow and better the workforce for women. Women need to celebrate and support each other instead of competing for the limited opportunities at the top of our companies. I’m grateful for the women who have supported me in my career; in lifting one another up, we all rise higher.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jaqueline Nuñez

Accounting Specialist, Tech Parks Arizona

I am a woman of determination. I consistently strive to achieve more; I set goals for myself, focus, and thrive in solving problems as they are presented to me. I’ve always been a self-motivated person, but since becoming a wife and a mother I find strength and motivation from my family. As a working woman, I find success in knowing I’m setting an example for my kids. I love being a mom, but I also love having a successful career, who says you have to choose? I want them to watch their mom do it all and know that they can also achieve anything they set their minds to! As a Latina I strive to inspire my community as well. I want to influence other Latina women by showing them that it is possible to reach any goals we set our minds and hearts to. When opportunities are presented to us, we should always take the challenge and go for it. My advice to all women is to always aim for a better way of life, education, and career growth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Casey Carrillo

Assistant Director, University of Arizona Center for Innovation

I am a dynamic woman. Having a dynamic mindset continues to propel me to new heights and tackle new challenges in my career. My ability to be nimble, adaptive and energetic at the same time has shown me the value of hard work. I am grateful for the people who have encouraged and inspired me to become the industrious woman I am today, specifically my mom, dad and younger sister. My mom is the best role model out there. She is an entirely selfless person and my biggest cheerleader; I am forever in awe of the woman she is. My dad, the best basketball coach I know, has taught me the value of being a team player; there truly is no “I” in “team”. Every day he tells me how proud he is of me, encouraging me to achieve great things and stay true to myself. My younger sister has taught me the value of persistence and perseverance in work. I am so grateful to be her older sister, but I wonder if she’ll ever realize how much she has taught me. These three inspire the core values I’ve always carried with me and by incorporating them into my life I’ve grown within my career at a young age. I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shelby Teitelbaum

Barista, Café Zona

I am a woman of confidence; I don’t let society define beauty for me. At a young age, I encountered difficult situations and as I’ve grown up I realized I have become the person my younger self needed. I started volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona to heal my inner child, as well as make sure whoever I am matched with never feels alone in life. Everyone should have someone they can talk to and trust. The best way to shape a child’s future is by helping them now. If you’re interested in creating a positive impact, volunteers with Big Brother Big Sister by going to www.bbbs.org/get-involved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Araceli Hernández Granados

Senior Engineer, TC Recycling

Soy una mujer muy motivada que inicialmente hizo una especialización fácilmente alcanzable cuando comencé mi educación superior. Sin embargo, llegó un punto de inflexión en mi vida cuando mi profesor de física me alentó a inscribirme en una clase especializada en matemáticas y emprender una carrera como ingeniera. Este momento fue una fuente de validación y propósito, ya que era la primera vez que alguien reconocía mi potencial. Impulsado por el apoyo de mi familia, Sergio, Teresa y Rafael, estudié Ingeniería Industrial. Años después conocí al Dr. José Escorcia, quien me motivó aún más para obtener una maestría en ingeniería y ciencias de los materiales. Esta experiencia alimentó mi determinación de trabajar más duro, ignorar las críticas negativas y esforzarme por convertirme en una líder en mi campo. Durante mis estudios de doctorado, desarrollé un gran interés en fomentar la conciencia sobre los desechos generados durante mis experimentos. Mis esfuerzos en esta área fueron reconocidos a través de varios reconocimientos de prestigio, incluyendo el premio "Jóvenes Latinoamericanos, Protagonistas de la Innovación para la Sostenibilidad Social y Ambiental" de la UNESCO y Barcelona Activa, así como el Premio al Mérito Investigador en Tecnología de Morelos, México, en 2018. Estos logros afirmaron el valor de mi diligencia y arduo trabajo. Después de obtener mi doctorado, comencé a trabajar como investigadora posdoctoral en el ICF-UNAM, donde tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con el Dr. Horacio Martínez, quien me inspiró aún más y me brindó una visión más amplia de mi carrera. Actualmente, como ingeniero sénior en TG Recycling, estoy realizando mi ambición de toda la vida de utilizar la química circular para recuperar metales de los desechos electrónicos. Mis esfuerzos se enfocan en recuperar elementos de tierras raras de las turbinas eólicas, así como metales valiosos y tóxicos de los módulos solares, con un enfoque en la sustentabilidad y aplicando soluciones de ingeniería que beneficien tanto a la sociedad como al medio ambiente. Me apasiona profundamente inspirar a los jóvenes de mi ciudad natal de Emiliano Zapata, Morelos, México, para que reconozcan las muchas oportunidades profesionales disponibles para ellos en los campos STEM. A través de visitas periódicas a mi ciudad natal, me comprometo con los niños a través de proyectos de ciencia, enseñándoles a ser curiosos y abordar la resolución de problemas con un enfoque práctico. Mi pasión es motivar a la próxima generación de innovadores relacionados con STEM, no solo para su beneficio, sino también para inspirar a mi propia hija, Naomi Nguyen. Le debo mucha gratitud a mis seres queridos, incluidos mis padres, hermano, hija y Kevin mi esposo, por su apoyo inquebrantable y su fe en mí. Gracias por creer en mí.

I am a highly motivated woman who initially pursued an easily attainable major when I commenced my higher education. However, a turning point in my life arrived when my physics professor encouraged me to enroll in a specialized math class and embark on a career as an engineer. This moment was a source of validation and purpose, as it was the first time someone had recognized my potential. Bolstered by the support of my family, Sergio, Teresa, and Rafael, I pursued Industrial Engineering, eventually encountering Dr. José Escorcia, who further motivated me to pursue a master's degree in material sciences and engineering. This experience fueled my determination to work harder, disregard negative criticism, and strive to become a leader in my field. During my Ph.D. studies, I developed a keen interest in increasing awareness about the waste generated during my experiments. My efforts in this area were recognized through various prestigious accolades, including the "Young Latin Americans, Protagonists of Innovation for Social and Environmental Sustainability" award from UNESCO and Barcelona Activa, as well as the Research Merit Award in Technology from Morelos, Mexico, in 2018. These achievements affirmed the value of my diligence and hard work. After earning my doctorate, I commenced work as a Postdoctoral researcher at the ICF-UNAM, where I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Horacio Martinez, who further inspired me and provided me with a larger vision for my career. Currently, as a Senior Engineer at TG Recycling, I am realizing my lifelong ambition of using circular chemistry to recover metals from electronic waste. My efforts focus on retrieving rare-earth elements from wind turbines, as well as valuable and toxic metals from solar modules, with a focus on sustainability and applying engineering solutions that benefit both society and the environment. I am deeply passionate about inspiring the youth from my hometown of Emiliano Zapata, Morelos, Mexico, to recognize the many career opportunities available to them in STEM fields. Through periodic visits to my hometown, I engage with children through science projects, teaching them to be curious and approach problem-solving with a hands-on approach. Ultimately, my hope is to motivate the next generation of STEM-related innovators, not only for their benefit but also to inspire my own daughter, Naomi Nguyen. I owe much gratitude to my loved ones, including my parents, brother, daughter, and Kevin my husband, for their unwavering support and faith in me. Thank you for believing in me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erida Curraj

Innovation Developer & Albanian Fellow, University of Arizona Center for Innovation

Unë jam eksperte në Zhvillim Inovacioni që kam ndihmuar bizneset, universitetet dhe organizatat e shoqërisë civile për më shumë se 15 vjet, fal aftësive të mia unike në inovacion, zhvillimin e produktit, strategjinë e biznesit dhe më shumë. Qëllimi im është të bëj një ndikim pozitiv duke kapërcyer hendekun midis biznesit dhe akademisë, fuqizimin e grave dhe promovimin e ndërveprimit midis bizneseve dhe akademikëve në Shqipëri dhe rajonin e Ballkanit Perëndimor. Në vitin 2020, bashkëthemelova WeWomen Albania, e cila është një platformë që fuqizon gratë përmes rrjetëzimit, trajnimeve dhe eksplorimit. Ne synojmë të krijojmë një komunitet gjithëpërfshirës që mbështet gratë në arritjen e qëllimeve të tyre dhe për të bërë zërin e tyre të dëgjohet. Gjithashtu, jam e përfshirë me SCiDEV Center, ku promovoj ndërveprimin midis bizneseve dhe akademikëve. Kohët e fundit, jam bashkangjitur Qendrës të Inovacionit të Universitetit të Arizonës. Në këtë program, kam mentoruar sipërmarrësit e rinj dhe krijova burime për t'i udhëhequr ata se si ti dërgojnë idetë e tyre në treg. Kam fituar përvojë të çmuar në inovacion dhe sipërmarrje, dhe jam e emocionuar ta përdor këtë njohuri në projektet e ardhshme.

I am an innovation developer who has helped businesses, universities, and civil society organizations for over 15 years. I have a unique set of skills in innovation, product development, business strategy, and more. My goal is to make a positive impact by bridging the gap between business and academia, empowering women, and promoting interaction between businesses and academics in Albania and the Western Balkan region. In 2020, I co-founded WeWomen Albania, a platform that empowers women through conversations, training, and exploration. We aim to create an inclusive community that supports women in achieving their goals and making their voices heard. I'm also involved with SCiDEV Center, promoting interaction between businesses and academics. Recently, I participated in a fellowship program at the University of Arizona Center for Innovation. As a fellow, I mentored new entrepreneurs and created resources to guide them through taking their ideas to market. I gained valuable experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, and I'm excited to use this knowledge in future projects.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Helga Sallaku

Professional Exchange Fellowship Program - Albania, University of Arizona Center for Innovation

Jam krenare për gruan që shoh në pasqyrë! Suksesi im vjen nga vetëbesimi, aftësia për ta kuptuar veten dhe për t'u ndjerë mirë me zgjedhjet që bëj. Versioni i suksesit tim, nuk ka pse të duket i njëjtë me suksesin e të tjerëve. Gjatë rrjedhës së jetës sonë, mënyra se si e shohim realitetin dhe si vlerësojmë prioritetet tona, ndryshon. Vlerat e mia dhe ajo çfarë unë e konsideroj të rëndësishme tek unë, ka ndryshuar me rritjen time. Ajo që dukej më e rëndësishme në moshë më të re, duket krejt ndryshe nën përgjegjësinë bashkshortore dhe pas ardhjes së fëmijëve në jetë. I tillë, i ndryshueshëm, është edhe përkufizimi i suksesit tonë. Ndaj, është e domosdoshme të ndjekim rrjedhën, të përshtatemi dhe të marrim vendimet e duhura në kohën dhe vendin e duhur. Jam shembulli më i mirë që do t'i udhëzojë vajzat e mia të mos e nënvlerësojnë asnjëherë veten, gjithmonë të besojnë në sukseset e tyre dhe të shijojnë jetën në maksimum.

I am proud of the woman I see in the mirror! My success comes from my self-confidence, the ability to look at myself and feel good about my choices. My version of success doesn't have to look the same as others. Over the course of our lives, the way we see reality and how we assess our priorities changes. My values and what I deem important in me, has changed with growth. What seemed important as a single young adult looks quite different after being married and having kids. Such, variable, is also the definition of our success. It is imperative to go with the flow, adapt and make the right decisions at the right time and place. I am the best example that will guide my daughters to never underestimate themselves, always believe in their successes and enjoy life to the fullest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florence “Pom” Tamondong

Senior Laboratory Technologist, Eurofins CellTx

I am a woman full of love. Nothing can come close to the feeling of giving love, teaching love and receiving love. I migrated from The Philippines which has such a different culture than the US. I have lived all my life in my hometown, where life seemed slow but productive. I like to think of it as being sure that you comprehend everything before you take a leap. 

Integrity, Commitment, Compassion, Perseverance and Kindness. These are values that my parents instilled in me; experience has fortified them. Kindness is at the forefront of the values. By paying it forward as much as I can, I believe I am leaving my own legacy that speak volumes without words.

Both my parents are teachers, growing up they trained me to love what I study. I love science - the methods, the puzzles, and the research. Science may be very complicated when you look at it from the outside, but, after learning, it just flows. When I work, I give it my all. I just found a knack for science and the rest was history! As a mom and a scientist, I am motivated to show my two sons they can achieve, what I can achieve.  

I feel like I have gotten the 1^st place in life. I made my parents proud by graduating with a degree I promised them. I love what I do – helping people the best way I can. I couldn’t pray for a better family, and I found my soul mate.

My advice is to not just to go through the motions of getting things done. Put your best foot forward.  Build relationships with people. Dance like there is no tomorrow! Move with joy and inner peace. That’s where you find happiness in life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jill Sommers

Marketing & Communications Specialist, Tech Parks Arizona

I am a woman of moxie. Throughout my life I’ve put grit and determination into everything I’ve done. Growing up I moved through different hobbies and passions finding different aspects to love and skill sets to grow. I graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona in May of 2022 as a double major in Information Science & eSociety and Communication, powering through online classes in the midst of the pandemic and coming out the other side having a deeper understanding of the person I am and who I want to become as I develop alongside my career. I am a young professional. I am a problem solver and creative storyteller. I am dedicated to expanding my knowledge and continuing to grow my career. I am a woman on a journey, flourishing in her career as she goes!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roslyn Norman

Chief Operations Officer, Paramium Technologies

I am a woman of perseverance. Perseverance is an important character trait for me. I grew up in rural Arizona near farmland along the Colorado River where I learned practical skills from my father, a construction professional. He taught me the importance of craftsmanship, attention to detail, observing my surroundings, and being tough. He also taught me the importance of listening to seasoned craftspeople in the field when engineering new designs and drafting plans. Advice I carry with me to this day, to create the best designs possible and to foster dynamic relationships with the skilled machinists and other craftspeople I work with on a regular basis.​

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monica Kemsley

Public Affairs & Communications, Citi

I am a creative and artistic woman. Making art is one of the most rewarding parts of my life. While at the University of Arizona I majored in Accounting, but got my minor in 2D Studio Art, a decision that raised some eyebrows as it wasn’t a typical “useful” combination. It was important to me to develop my artistic talent irrespective if it was applicable to my career. I bring artistic elements into my work and have been fortunate to have roles that allow me to apply my creative skills. I have continued to attend art classes and learn new techniques which has facilitated a lot of personal growth and development as an artist. Many of my works feature women with themes including body positivity, fashion, and joy. I encourage everyone to pursue their passions, regardless of expectations. Do it for yourself, embrace what you love.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jing Zhang

Senior Scientist, NP Photonics

我是一个小小的光子。小时候，我心中总是充满疑问，最想知道：世界是什么样子的？直到一天在书中读到：有了光才有了人类，有了光才让人类看到了世界万物，光让人类了解和认知世界。从此，我对光充满了好奇，也与光结下了不解之缘。大学本科主修光学专业，博士选择激光技术的研究，使我享受探索世界的无尽快乐。2008年在德国康斯坦茨大学应用光子学中心访学，我作为团队中的一名成员，亲身参与并见证了当时世界最高单脉冲能量的亚皮秒固体激光器新纪录的诞生。这次访学经历让我认识到，只要每天努力前进一点点，终会见证奇迹的诞生。2016年在美国三大光学中心之一的UA光院学习，更让我开阔了眼界，结识了更多光学领域杰出的学者。我是幸运的，在学习和工作中遇到了最好的教授和同事们，和他们一起工作、做研究，我受益终生。没有他们的帮助、指导和付出，很难想象我能如此幸运地站在UA Tech park 和如此多杰出的人一起共事。在认识世界的同时，越是开拓了视野增长了见识，就越是会认识到自身的局限。我要成为一个与光同行的女人，与所有的同行们像一粒光子一样，不断前行，照亮世界，探索未来！

I’m a woman of tiny photon. When I was a child, I always desired to know how and why the world works as it looks like. Until one day I read in a book: Only with light can there be human beings, only with light can human beings see everything in the world, and light allows human beings to understand and recognize the world. Since then, I have been full of curiosity about light, and have formed an indissoluble bond with light. I majored in optics for my undergraduate degree, and chose laser technology research for my doctorate, which made me enjoy the endless joy of exploring the world. During my research as a visiting PhD student in Germany in 2008, as a member of the team, I personally participated in and witnessed the birth of a new world record, the sub-picosecond solid state laser with the highest single pulse energy in the world at that time, which made me believe that as long as you made a small step forward every day, you would see the miracle born. In 2016, I did research at Wyant College of Optical Sciences in the University of Arizona, one of the three major optical centers in the United States, which broadened my horizon greatly and I met more international elites. I was very fortunate having met the best professors and colleagues in my studies and research, always learning a lot from working and doing research with them, which benefits me for my whole life. Without their help, guidance and dedication, it is hard to imagine that I would be so lucky to work at the UA Tech Park with so many outstanding people. While understanding the world, the more I've broadened my horizon, the more I realize my own limitations. I want to be a woman walking with light, like a photon, with all my peers keep moving forward, illuminating the world, and exploring the future!