UW Engineering Duo Honored For Diversity Efforts

Two individuals associated with the Department of Chemical Engineering were honored at the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards at the University of Wyoming.

Emily Lynch, a senior chemical engineering student, and Saman Aryana, an assistant professor in the department, each won awards. The awards recognize and reward the efforts of faculty, staff, students and community members to “create and support an environment where diversity, equity and inclusion are valued, both on campus and in the community.” Criteria for the awards include initiatives that are deemed “outstanding, exceptional, extraordinary and innovative” in areas such as teaching, research, programs, services and community outreach.

Associate Professor Joe Holles submitted nominations for both Lynch and Aryana.

Lynch won the 2018 Student Magnificent Mile Award for Service. In the past year, she helped found the UW chapter of Phi Sigma Rho, a social sorority for women in technical studies and science, technology, engineering and math. She is involved in the UW chapters of American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Society of Women Engineers, and participates in undergraduate research in the department. Holles wrote in his letter to the awards committee that she was an "outstanding example of the combination of academic excellence and natural service leadership that marks her a future leader in her profession."

Aryana was presented the 2018 Faculty Magnificent Mile Award for his efforts to found and advise the UW chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers in 2015. The NSBE created and expanded social and career networks for students of color and minority students at UW.

"It is my pleasure to nominate Saman for the Faculty Magnificent Mile Award," Holles writes. "I give Saman my highest possible recommendation. This is a classic example of service and providing a mechanism (the student NSBE chapter) for the students to grow their social networks (at the local and national level) and expand their career networks (at the national level)."

The awards were presented at the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards dinner Sept. 21. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards are sponsored by the Committee on Women and People of Color, The Good Mule Project, Martin Luther King Jr. Days of Dialogue, Shepard Symposium on Social Justice and the Social Justice Research Center.