Junior Katherine Pitz and Associate Professor of Software Engineering Dr. Amalia Rusu are two Fairfield women making a difference in the male-dominated field of engineering.

Pitz, a mechanical engineering major, and Rusu are two of 59 students, professors and professionals who were finalists for a 2014 Women of Innovation award. The program is sponsored by the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC), which honors women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

An awards ceremony was held on March 27 in Southington, Conn. where the winners in eight different categories were announced. Although neither Pitz nor Rusu won an award, they both were honored to be finalists.

“They had a very good number of nominations this year, like about over 150, and there were about roughly 50 finalists,” said Rusu, who was one of the finalists in the Academic Innovation and Leadership Category.

Rusu, the first female faculty member in Fairfield’s School of Engineering, has been involved in research projects and engineering associations in addition to teaching. Throughout her academic career, Rusu has noticed that the field is still dominated by men.

“It’s always the case. Fairfield is no different … Women in engineering, they are very motivated and they are very good, so they end up the top of class. That’s something to be proud of,” said Rusu.

Pitz was a finalist in the Collegian Innovation and Leadership category. She is one of 28 females in the School of Engineering at Fairfield, compared to 127 males. In the junior class alone, Pitz is one of six female students.

Outside of the classroom, Pitz is involved in the Society of Women Engineering and is co-president of Fairfield’s branch of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In addition to her schoolwork and club involvement, Pitz is a member of Fairfield’s rowing team.

“A lot of people would be overwhelmed … She is good at balancing all her obligations,” said

Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Dr. Shanon M. Reckinger, Fairfield’s Clare Boothe Luce Professor.

“I think I’m naturally just very motivated to work hard,” said Pitz. “Everything I do, I try to put 110 percent in.”

Reckinger also praised Pitz on her ability to learn material quickly. Pitz’s interest in engineering began in her high school physics class, and she has enjoyed the subject ever since. Pitz credits her ability to learn new material to years of practice

“I don’t think I was always naturally like that. After doing it for seven years, you just kind of catch on to it and develop skills to analyze differently than a normal person would,” said Pitz.

Pitz says that she embraces being one of the few females in her program.

“I enjoy being in classes with all the guys. I think they’re very helpful and I don’t feel like I’m put down in any of my classes,” said Pitz.

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