Fairygodboss Of The Week Maria Klawe

Fairygodboss Of The Week Maria Klawe Our Fairygodboss of the Week has devoted her career to placing mora women in STEM careers. After successful stints at major tech companies, Maria Klawe moved into education and became the first woman to lead Harvey Mudd College a position she still holds today. Read on below to learn more about this renowned scientist and scholar.Fairygodboss of the Week Maria KlawePresident, Harvey Mudd CollegeClaremont, CAFGBTell us about your career. How did you get to where you are now?MK Im an academic mathematician and computer scientist who has been passionate about getting more women into STEM careers since my teenage years. Soon after my Ph.D. I joined IBM Research in San Jose, then went to UBC in Vancouver as head of the CS department. After various other roles there, including Dean of Science, I went to Princeton as Dean of Engineering. I became the fifth president of Harvey Mudd College in 2006.FGB What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?MKIm very proud of the work at Harvey Mudd College that has significantly increased the percentage of CS, engineering and physics majors that are female. We have now graduated a class in each of these majors that welches more than half female. Of course, this work resulted from the dedication of many faculty, staff and students at the college.FGB What is a challenge that youve faced and overcome?MK I had a concussion resulting from a bicycle accident in 1994 (and yes, I was wearing a helmet) that caused significant loss of cognitive function, severe depression and suicidal ideation. It took me four years to seek help for the depression and recover fully from the cognitive deficits.FGBWhat is the 1 career tip youd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you?MK Be willing to ask for help. This is something that took me a long time to learn. Ive been the first woman to hold my position for almost thirty years and for most of that time, Ive been reluctant to a sk for help because it would make me feel even more vulnerable to criticism. I finally realized that asking for help (and taking it) is a strength rather than a weakness.FGB Why do you love where you work? MK I love the opportunity to be part of a community that is dedicated to the education and personal development of our amazing students.FGB Who is YOUR Fairygodboss? Why? MK Sheryl Sandbergis my Fairygodboss because she helped Harvey Mudd College become much better known for our success in attracting women to computer science, engineering and physics. In turn, that visibility has helped us help other universities and colleges make progress, and also attract many more black and Latinx students to Harvey MuddFGB What do you do when youre not working?MK I paint watercolors, kayak, hike, ski, read books and cuddle with cats and my husband Nick.FGB If you could have dinner with one famous person dead or alive who would it be?MK Anita Borg. She died from brain cancer in 2003 at the ag e of 54. She was one of my closest friends and I miss her enormously. I would love to have one more dinner with her where we drink lots of wine and marvel at how huge the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing has grown.Lightning Round FGB What is your karaoke song?MKHarvest Moon by Neil Young.FGB What is your favorite movie?MKGood Will Hunting.FGB What book would you take with you on a desert island?MKAnathem by Neal Stephenson.FGB What is your shopping vice?What would you buy if you won the lottery?MK Watercolor paints, brushes and paper.--Fairygodboss is all about women helping other women - so each week, we celebrate a woman who made a difference in another womans career. Is there a woman who has made a difference in your career?Celebrate her and thank herbynominating her here.