The leadership for the MAL organization for the current fiscal year.
On this page you find the FY20 MAL leadership team.
President: Emily Ongstad
Emily has been a MAL since 2012, and served several terms as newsletter editor, secretary, vice president, and is completing the second of two terms as president. Emily was recognized by the Outstanding MAL Leader Award in FY14 and FY15 for exceptional contributions to the MAL organization. At the Society level, Emily has served as a SWE Magazine Editorial Board member since FY18. Emily earned her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from Michigan Technological University where she was an active member of the SWE collegiate section. Here she served as Vice President (2008), Evening With Industry Chair (2006-2008), and Newsletter Editor (2007-2008). Emily received her PhD in Bioengineering from Clemson University in December 2015. She is now developing biologic drugs for cardiovascular disease and diabetes at AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD, and currently has one drug in clinical trials. Her passion is improving treatment outcomes for patients by engineering better therapies. Outside of labwork and SWE, Emily enjoys being outdoors.
Emily has been a MAL since 2012, and served several terms as newsletter editor, secretary, vice president, and is completing the second of two terms as president. Emily was recognized by the Outstanding MAL Leader Award in FY14 and FY15 for exceptional contributions to the MAL organization. At the Society level, Emily has served as a SWE Magazine Editorial Board member since FY18. Emily earned her Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering from Michigan Technological University where she was an active member of the SWE collegiate section. Here she served as Vice President (2008), Evening With Industry Chair (2006-2008), and Newsletter Editor (2007-2008). Emily received her PhD in Bioengineering from Clemson University in December 2015. She is now developing biologic drugs for cardiovascular disease and diabetes at AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD, and currently has one drug in clinical trials. Her passion is improving treatment outcomes for patients by engineering better therapies. Outside of labwork and SWE, Emily enjoys being outdoors.
Vice President: Erin Culver
Erin Culver is currently the Quality Assurance Unit Manager for BWX Technologies, Inc. in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Since her graduation from Southern Methodist University with a Mechanical Engineering degree, Erin has worked for BWXT in a number of roles including developing a ISO compliant quality system, creation of a supplier oversight program, and implementing a facility wide metric system that tracks key performance indicators across all departments. Most recently, Erin has been responsible for coordinating a Quality Culture campaign, including a full day stand down for the facility, communication boards, immediate feedback for welding operations, and a machining improvement committee, all aimed at promoting first time quality and providing tools for all employees to achieve quality in their respective roles. As an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, Erin currently serves as the MAL Vice President, as well as a member of the society finance committee. She has previously been involved in the Northeastern Ohio Section as President and Section Representative. Erin is also active in community service, most recently working with the Junior League of Evansville supporting local charities as well as with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies Light the Night Campaign, where her family team has raised over $5000 in the past three years.
Erin Culver is currently the Quality Assurance Unit Manager for BWX Technologies, Inc. in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Since her graduation from Southern Methodist University with a Mechanical Engineering degree, Erin has worked for BWXT in a number of roles including developing a ISO compliant quality system, creation of a supplier oversight program, and implementing a facility wide metric system that tracks key performance indicators across all departments. Most recently, Erin has been responsible for coordinating a Quality Culture campaign, including a full day stand down for the facility, communication boards, immediate feedback for welding operations, and a machining improvement committee, all aimed at promoting first time quality and providing tools for all employees to achieve quality in their respective roles. As an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, Erin currently serves as the MAL Vice President, as well as a member of the society finance committee. She has previously been involved in the Northeastern Ohio Section as President and Section Representative. Erin is also active in community service, most recently working with the Junior League of Evansville supporting local charities as well as with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies Light the Night Campaign, where her family team has raised over $5000 in the past three years.
Secretary: Catherine Martsolf
Catherine Martsolf was awarded Outstanding Collegiate Member at WE17 and since becoming a professional she has served as Secretary for the Philadelphia SWE professional section before becoming an MAL. She is an environmental engineer at the EPA in Region 3 and Ioves everything about SWE, as she served as President of her collegiate section, Temple University SWE, and continues to stay active at the society level! Currently, she serves as a Director on the board of the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia and on committees at the society of level of Environmental and Water Resources Institute and American Society of Civil Engineers along with SWE. She is on both Finance and Outreach Committee in SWE and just began filling out the form to begin a HeForSWE affinity group, as she founded the HeForSWE Ambassador program as President in college.
Catherine Martsolf was awarded Outstanding Collegiate Member at WE17 and since becoming a professional she has served as Secretary for the Philadelphia SWE professional section before becoming an MAL. She is an environmental engineer at the EPA in Region 3 and Ioves everything about SWE, as she served as President of her collegiate section, Temple University SWE, and continues to stay active at the society level! Currently, she serves as a Director on the board of the Engineers’ Club of Philadelphia and on committees at the society of level of Environmental and Water Resources Institute and American Society of Civil Engineers along with SWE. She is on both Finance and Outreach Committee in SWE and just began filling out the form to begin a HeForSWE affinity group, as she founded the HeForSWE Ambassador program as President in college.
MembershipTreasurer: Claire Shortall
Claire Shortall (MAL-C; Pineville, LA) joined SWE as a freshman and is a charter member and past president of three sections – Princeton University, Louisiana (now Baton Rouge), and Greater New Orleans. She has been a MAL since relocating from the Houston area to central Louisiana in 1986. Her wealth of experience includes three years as Society treasurer, three years on the board of trustees, and many years on various Society task forces and committees, including restructuring, finance, bylaws, membership, and awards & recognition. In her roles as MAL membership coordinator and the Society’s new professional section coordinator, she has provided guidance to other members who successfully organized more than 35 professional sections. A life member since 1983, Claire was recognized as a Distinguished New Engineer in 1984, as a Fellow in 1995, and as a recipient of the Society’s inaugural Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
Claire Shortall (MAL-C; Pineville, LA) joined SWE as a freshman and is a charter member and past president of three sections – Princeton University, Louisiana (now Baton Rouge), and Greater New Orleans. She has been a MAL since relocating from the Houston area to central Louisiana in 1986. Her wealth of experience includes three years as Society treasurer, three years on the board of trustees, and many years on various Society task forces and committees, including restructuring, finance, bylaws, membership, and awards & recognition. In her roles as MAL membership coordinator and the Society’s new professional section coordinator, she has provided guidance to other members who successfully organized more than 35 professional sections. A life member since 1983, Claire was recognized as a Distinguished New Engineer in 1984, as a Fellow in 1995, and as a recipient of the Society’s inaugural Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
Director – Outreach: Dhanalakshmi Thiyagarajan
Dhanu Thiyag has been involved with SWE since 2011. She started with her collegiate section at the University of Pittsburgh, rising to President as a senior. Throughout her experience in graduate school, she has been involved with the Program Development Grant committee, Awards Committee, WE16 Planning Committee and Region E Planning Committee. She is also the graduate advisor for Temple University SWE and the SWENext advisor for Lehigh Valley Academy SWENext. She became a MAL in FY18. She was the Region E Collegiate Senator and Communications Sub-Team Lead for FY18. In FY19, she is a Special Senator and the Collegiate Leadership Engagement Sub-Team Champion.
Dhanu Thiyag has been involved with SWE since 2011. She started with her collegiate section at the University of Pittsburgh, rising to President as a senior. Throughout her experience in graduate school, she has been involved with the Program Development Grant committee, Awards Committee, WE16 Planning Committee and Region E Planning Committee. She is also the graduate advisor for Temple University SWE and the SWENext advisor for Lehigh Valley Academy SWENext. She became a MAL in FY18. She was the Region E Collegiate Senator and Communications Sub-Team Lead for FY18. In FY19, she is a Special Senator and the Collegiate Leadership Engagement Sub-Team Champion.
Director – Communications: Jennifer Seals Cooper, PE
Jennifer Seals Cooper, P.E. supports rocket assembly and testing for Boeing's Avionics & Software group as the Responsible Engineer for the Power Distribution Control Unit on the Space Launch System.
Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Engineer with a background in industrial, environmental, and mechanical engineering. Jennifer has managed projects, lead teams, and coordinated resources from manufacturing to consulting. She has a BS in Engineering from the University of Tennessee-Martin. She also has MS degrees in Engineering Management and Environmental Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
She has been active SWE member, leader, and volunteer since college including but not limited to, Chair of the PDG committee, a coach for the Leadership Coaching Committee, and a Member-at-Large representative for Region D.
Jennifer Seals Cooper, P.E. supports rocket assembly and testing for Boeing's Avionics & Software group as the Responsible Engineer for the Power Distribution Control Unit on the Space Launch System.
Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Engineer with a background in industrial, environmental, and mechanical engineering. Jennifer has managed projects, lead teams, and coordinated resources from manufacturing to consulting. She has a BS in Engineering from the University of Tennessee-Martin. She also has MS degrees in Engineering Management and Environmental Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
She has been active SWE member, leader, and volunteer since college including but not limited to, Chair of the PDG committee, a coach for the Leadership Coaching Committee, and a Member-at-Large representative for Region D.
Additionally, the appointment of FY20 MAL Special Directors, Committee Chairs and Coordinators was approved by the FY19 MAL Executive Committee as follows:
Special Director: Naomi Brill
Naomi Brill is a fellow life member and retired manufacturing/operations manager residing in Minnesota. Brill joined SWE as a collegiate in FY81, and has been active at all levels.
Section-level SWE career highlights include holding office(s), establishing the Minnesota section scholarship, certificate of merit, and awards programs, being founding counselor for 2 (outstanding new) collegiate sections, and being founding chair of the Minnesota SWE Advisory Council.
Brill served the Heartland Region as Director, FY02-04, and established region-level awards.
Society involvement includes serving as the inaugural Director of Regions—a daunting responsibility involving creating Governor’s training, policies, and procedures; proposing and championing by-laws changes; attempting regional conference standardization, integrating collegiate into regional leadership; and advocating for the Leadership Coaching Committee’s continued existence.
Post-BOD, Brill served four years on the Society nominating committee (two years as chair), and served on the ethics committee. She was recognized with SWE’s 2014 Distinguished Service Award.
Naomi Brill is a fellow life member and retired manufacturing/operations manager residing in Minnesota. Brill joined SWE as a collegiate in FY81, and has been active at all levels.
Section-level SWE career highlights include holding office(s), establishing the Minnesota section scholarship, certificate of merit, and awards programs, being founding counselor for 2 (outstanding new) collegiate sections, and being founding chair of the Minnesota SWE Advisory Council.
Brill served the Heartland Region as Director, FY02-04, and established region-level awards.
Society involvement includes serving as the inaugural Director of Regions—a daunting responsibility involving creating Governor’s training, policies, and procedures; proposing and championing by-laws changes; attempting regional conference standardization, integrating collegiate into regional leadership; and advocating for the Leadership Coaching Committee’s continued existence.
Post-BOD, Brill served four years on the Society nominating committee (two years as chair), and served on the ethics committee. She was recognized with SWE’s 2014 Distinguished Service Award.
Newsletter Editor: Lorna Holt
Lorna Holt works in Gas Engineering at SoCalGas in Los Angeles, CA, as an Engineer I. Some of her projects include doing project engineering for renewable biogas projects. She is also currently an ECLIPSE intern for the ASME Board of Governors for FY20.
Lorna was a FY18 & FY19 MAL representative and previously served as the MAL Region B representative for FY17. Originally from the Republic of Panama, Lorna also grew up in both Southern and Northern California & enjoys traveling.
Lorna obtained a MBA from the University of Redlands in December 2015, and completed a certificate program in energy innovation & emerging technologies from the Stanford Center for Professional Development. She studied engineering physics with an emphasis on biophysics and holds a BS in biological engineering from Cornell University.
Lorna Holt works in Gas Engineering at SoCalGas in Los Angeles, CA, as an Engineer I. Some of her projects include doing project engineering for renewable biogas projects. She is also currently an ECLIPSE intern for the ASME Board of Governors for FY20.
Lorna was a FY18 & FY19 MAL representative and previously served as the MAL Region B representative for FY17. Originally from the Republic of Panama, Lorna also grew up in both Southern and Northern California & enjoys traveling.
Lorna obtained a MBA from the University of Redlands in December 2015, and completed a certificate program in energy innovation & emerging technologies from the Stanford Center for Professional Development. She studied engineering physics with an emphasis on biophysics and holds a BS in biological engineering from Cornell University.
Financial Assessment Chair: Stacey Culver
Stacey Culver is a SWE Fellow and Life member and has served in various capacities at the section, region and society levels. She currently serves as the Society’s Audit Chair and as the MAL Financial Assessment Chair.
Stacey Culver is a SWE Fellow and Life member and has served in various capacities at the section, region and society levels. She currently serves as the Society’s Audit Chair and as the MAL Financial Assessment Chair.
Membership: Claire Shortall
Claire Shortall (MAL-C; Pineville, LA) joined SWE as a freshman and is a charter member and past president of three sections – Princeton University, Louisiana (now Baton Rouge), and Greater New Orleans. She has been a MAL since relocating from the Houston area to central Louisiana in 1986. Her wealth of experience includes three years as Society treasurer, three years on the board of trustees, and many years on various Society task forces and committees, including restructuring, finance, bylaws, membership, and awards & recognition. In her roles as MAL membership coordinator and the Society’s new professional section coordinator, she has provided guidance to other members who successfully organized more than 35 professional sections. A life member since 1983, Claire was recognized as a Distinguished New Engineer in 1984, as a Fellow in 1995, and as a recipient of the Society’s inaugural Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
Claire Shortall (MAL-C; Pineville, LA) joined SWE as a freshman and is a charter member and past president of three sections – Princeton University, Louisiana (now Baton Rouge), and Greater New Orleans. She has been a MAL since relocating from the Houston area to central Louisiana in 1986. Her wealth of experience includes three years as Society treasurer, three years on the board of trustees, and many years on various Society task forces and committees, including restructuring, finance, bylaws, membership, and awards & recognition. In her roles as MAL membership coordinator and the Society’s new professional section coordinator, she has provided guidance to other members who successfully organized more than 35 professional sections. A life member since 1983, Claire was recognized as a Distinguished New Engineer in 1984, as a Fellow in 1995, and as a recipient of the Society’s inaugural Distinguished Service Award in 2000.
FY19 Teller's Chair: Beth Posey-Leonhard
Elected by the MAL council at WE18 for the governance restructure, going forward the MAL nominating committee will shall select a teller to receive the votes. The teller's chair tabulates election ballots, certifies results, and reports results to the president. If ballots will be cast online, the teller's chair also sets up the election ballot(s) as needed with information provided by the secretary. The teller's chair is elected by the MAL council (generally at the MAL meeting held during the Society conference); an alternate teller may be elected, if desired, to serve in the event the chair needs to withdraw or will be unable to complete the duties.
Elected by the MAL council at WE18 for the governance restructure, going forward the MAL nominating committee will shall select a teller to receive the votes. The teller's chair tabulates election ballots, certifies results, and reports results to the president. If ballots will be cast online, the teller's chair also sets up the election ballot(s) as needed with information provided by the secretary. The teller's chair is elected by the MAL council (generally at the MAL meeting held during the Society conference); an alternate teller may be elected, if desired, to serve in the event the chair needs to withdraw or will be unable to complete the duties.
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