Janeen Uzzell '85, CEO of National Society of Black Engineers, Sparks Inspiration

The Mount Saint Mary Academy Students of Color Affinity Group (SOCA) organized a virtual visit with 1985 alumna Janeen Uzzell, the CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the largest Black STEM community impacting society and industry, on the morning of Thursday, February 17, in the Sister Lisa Gambacorto Theater.

“As the leader of SOCA, I am so thankful for our opportunity to host Ms. Uzzell as part of our Black History Month programming,” said Olivia Encarnacion ’23. “Hearing about her life and her experience truly inspired me! She showed me the importance of following your passion and thanking those who have helped you along the way.”

Olivia added, “The importance of being confident and making sure my voice is heard was merely one of the many parts that struck me from her presentation.”

Confidence was a large part of the message that Ms. Uzzell incorporated in her presentation which was also shared with faculty, staff, and administration, as well as a large group of students.

During a Q&A portion of the event, she pondered the advice that she would give to her younger self: “To have confidence. Protect it – because the world is going to try to come and tear it down. The world doesn’t want women – certainly women of color to have a strong sense of confidence.”

She also emphasized that one must always express themselves in respectful ways.

Ms. Uzzell’s resume includes COO for the Wikimedia Foundation, and for GE (General Electric) - Global Director of External Affairs and Technology Programs, Director of Healthcare Programs at GE Africa, and Director of Service Operations, among other roles.

As she described her trailblazing career and world- and life-changing accomplishments, Ms. Uzzell stressed how the study of engineering is at the core of everything we do. She is so good at it, she quipped, that her family appreciates how she even “engineers Christmas” with every activity and tradition planned perfectly.

She encouraged the students to pursue, in whichever career inspires them, a mission to make a positive difference in the world around them.

Encouraging self-empowerment, she said, “Find your voice in your community, rally and cheer each other on. Do not allow yourselves to be silenced. Find your space in this world – a space to do good.”

Mahalia Gorham ’24, a member of SOCA and the Society of Women Engineers Club at the Mount, said, "I was so inspired by Ms. Uzzell’s passion for representing a strong woman of color, like me, in STEM. She motivated me to continue to strive towards my future goal of becoming an environmental engineer. I learned that you cannot let others take your aspirations away from you or stop you from experiencing life's rewards." 

“Ms. Uzzell’s advice, especially coming from a woman of color who has had much success in STEM, reminds me to have confidence in my abilities and create spaces for minorities in the future,” said Akshaya Karanam ’24.

Zoe Daly ’24 said, “Her story was really inspiring, and all of her accomplishments make me more motivated to reach my goals, especially since she is a POC that came from the Mount.”

“I am extremely thankful for her presentation today,” added Ankita Mallik ’23. “Ms. Uzzell is truly an inspiration to all women of color, and I will take her words with me in life. I found her energy and passion for her field motivating and I am thankful for her work.”

Brittany Santamaria ’23 said, “It was an amazing opportunity getting to hear Ms. Uzzell’s first-hand account on her struggles being a black woman in STEM and how she conquered them and has achieved so much by being a voice for herself and for those who feel as though they don’t have one. She truly inspired me to not be afraid to speak up for what I want in life.”