Society of Women Engineers honors Frances Hurwitz

 

Chicago, Illinois – The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has bestowed its 2014 Achievement Award on Frances Hurwitz, senior materials research engineer at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. 

 

The Achievement Award, SWE's highest honor, is presented to a woman at the pinnacle of her career who has made an outstanding contribution to her field. Hurwitz was chosen in recognition of her pioneering work in the development of materials used in space exploration, for exceptional team leadership across disciplines, and for her work to enable a more equitable work environment. 

 

Hurwitz, a resident of the Cleveland-Akron, Ohio area, has enjoyed a long career with NASA, resolving materials problems through the development of high-temperature thermal materials. She was integral in the development of NASA’s aerogels and established techniques for fabricating composites for entry, descent and landing, and space power systems. She is also the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal for outstanding scientific and leadership contributions. 

 

Hurwitz was officially honored at WE14, SWE’s annual conference. Each year, SWE honors the achievements of those who have worked tirelessly on behalf of women in engineering and technology. Honoring the efforts of women like Hurwitz, SWE strives to recognize these individuals for their positive impact and essential contributions to the future of engineering. 

 

SWE, founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization that establishes engineering as a desirable career aspiration for women. It empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and receive recognition for their life-changing contributions as engineers and leaders.

 

The Society of Women Engineers