Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) honoured Dr. Yu-Ling Cheng, Chair of Engineering Science at U o T with the “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” award. The award recognizes her achievements in her traditionally male-dominated field.
Even though society is often bombarded with the message that we live in an environment where gender equality exists, many employed women disagree because they are faced with the “glass ceiling” that decreases the likelihood and lengthens the time for promotion into managerial positions. This situation also hinders women’s entrance into traditionally male-dominated fields such as science and engineering.
Statistics from a number of studies confirm this gender-biased inequality in employment as well as imbalanced representation of women in various fields. This inequality affects the role of women in society. A few women, however, have been successful in breaking these barriers, and WISE strives to recognize them for their accomplishments.
WISE is a national co-ed student organization whose main goal is to promote women in science and engineering fields. The organization also encourages high school female students to enter these fields. This past year, two executives of WISE at University of Toronto, Jennifer Pereira and Jennifer Yen, initiated the “Breaking the Glass Ceiling Series”: a series of events that would spread awareness of the lack of equality and prepare young women for these gender-based barriers.
Through workshops, discussions and empowering speakers WISE hoped to inspire these women to build the confidence and leadership skills needed to overcome the glass ceiling. Our legacy event was the “Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award,” recognizing the amazing accomplishments of the female faculty here at the university. WISE honored Dr. Yu-Ling Cheng, Chair of Engineering Science, with the award this year because she has demonstrated strength, drive, courage, and accomplished remarkable achievements despite the many challenges facing women in today’s workforce.
One of Cheng’s students, who was also a member of the nomination committee stated, “As her position as Chair demonstrates, Professor Cheng embodies everything that this award celebrates, as a female visible minority in a traditionally male-dominated field, who for the past five years has headed a globally-recognized engineering program at the largest university in Canada. She continually strives to improve engineering science, courageously spearheading initiatives that benefit students.”
Many of Cheng’s students state that she is the best thing that has ever happened to the Division of Engineering Science. She has taken the program from obscurity outside of the U of T community to one with a reputation of producing highly qualified engineering students. 2004-2005 was Cheng’s last year as Chair of Engineering Science.
Through her work and accomplishments, Cheng proves that there are no limits to what a woman can achieve in her career. She motivates aspiring young minds to achieve their dreams as well.
To nominate a female professor for the WISE award, visit http://wise.sa.utoronto.ca.
