Two Kettering University faculty members were honored by the Society of Women Engineers for their work and contributions to engineering. 

Dr. Diane Peters, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Dr. Rebecca Reck, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering, received awards at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) annual awards program that took place Oct. 28 in Philadelphia.

“Dr. Peters and Dr. Reck are tremendous representatives of Kettering University and their recognitions by the Society of Women Engineers are extremely well-deserved,” said Dr. James Zhang, Kettering University Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “They are exemplary teachers and researchers and great role models for our students.”

Reck was recognized as a SWE Distinguished New Engineer, which honors women engineers who have been actively engaged in engineering in the first 10 years of their careers. She received this recognition for successfully navigating a career transition from industry to academia, for innovative research in engineering education and for leadership in fulfilling the SWE mission. 

Reck recently earned her Ph.D. in systems and entrepreneurial engineering.  For eight years before starting her doctoral studies, she was a systems engineer in the automatic flight control systems department at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  There, Reck designed control systems for business and regional jet aircraft and led several project development teams.  

“I’m honored to be recognized for something I’m passionate about,” Reck said. “Going from an engineer to an educator has allowed me to draw upon my experience and share that with our future engineers.”

Peters was named a SWE Fellow, which recognizes SWE members for their continuous service to the advancement of women in the engineering profession. She received the honor for blending academic excellence with industry experience, for creativity that excites and challenges students and for reminding women engineers of all ages to reach back and inspire the next generation. 

Before beginning joining Kettering’s faculty, Peters worked as a mechanical engineer since 1993. She worked for numerous industrial equipment companies, rising to project engineer. Since 2013, Peters has taught a variety of courses at Kettering in the dynamic systems sequence, for which she developed new resources, led the redevelopment of one of its laboratory courses and designed and taught a new course in automotive control systems.

“It’s an honor to be selected as a Fellow of SWE,” said Peters. “I’m proud to be able to inspire students and to mentor and educate our future engineers .”

SWE awards acknowledge achievers and leaders within various fields of engineering. The annual initiative aims to recognize the successes of SWE members and individuals who enhance the engineering profession through contributions to industry, education and the community. Award recipients were recognized at WE16, the world’s largest conference for women engineers.