News

Xerox Corporation President Ursula M. Burns and Maseeh College graduate student Lisa S. Diercksen will be inducted into the Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame at the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University (PSU) on Friday, June 12. The induction ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Maseeh College's All College Graduation Reception. Accepting the award for Ms. Burns will be Debra Koehler, Xerox's Director of Sustainability. Ms. Koehler and Ms. Diercksen will briefly address the members of the Maseeh College's graduating class. "The Denton award was created to recognize outstanding women who are shaping the engineering profession," states Maseeh College Interim Dean Richard I. Knight. "Ms. Burns and Ms. Diercksen exemplify the success and importance of women in engineering and serve as important role models for others."

Ursula M. Burns holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of NYU and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. She serves on professional and community boards, including American Express Corp., CASA - the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, National Academy Foundation, MIT, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the University of Rochester. Burns joined Xerox in 1980 as a mechanical engineering summer intern. She held several positions in engineering with Xerox. From 1992 to 2000, she lead business teams in the office color and fax business and office network copying business. In 2000, Burns was named senior vice president, Corporate Strategic Services, heading up manufacturing and supply chain operations. In 2002, Burns was named president of Xerox Business Group Operations. She is also an elected member of the Xerox Board of Directors. On July 1, Burns will be appointed CEO of Xerox.

Xerox Corporation is the global leader in document management solutions with $17.6 billion in annual revenues. Under Ms. Burns' watch Xerox has undergone a technology strategy that has enabled the launch of more than 80 products in the last three years. She helped the company through an aggressive, multibillion‐dollar turnaround plan that significantly strengthened Xerox's competitive position in the marketplace.

Lisa S. Diercksen holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University and is currently enrolled in the master of science in civil engineering degree program at PSU. Ms. Diercksen is a graduate research assistant in the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory at PSU. She has completed internships with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Kimley‐Horn and Associates, Inc (Phoenix, AZ), and TranSystems Corporation (Kansas City, MO). Ms. Diercksen is a member of the Chi Epsilon, a civil engineering honor society, and has served as president and vice‐president of Students in Transportation Engineering and Planning (STEP). In 2008, Ms. Diercksen presented at the Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress (ITSWC) held in New York.

Portland State University recognizes the contributions of prominent women in technology and engineering by establishing the Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame. After earning her doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Denice Dee Denton excelled as a faculty member, a dean of engineering, and a chancellor for a major public institution with exceptional skill and wisdom. Her lifetime of accomplishments and accolades serves as inspirations for fellow women engineers and technologists. The Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame honors in perpetuity those who have similarly made significant impact on our lives through their dedication to the engineering profession. The Hall of Fame annually honors one outstanding female engineer and one outstanding Maseeh College female engineering student.

Past inductees include U.S. Navy Commander and Astronaut Sunita Williams and student Diana Laboy‐Rush.

The Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University is located at 1930 SW Fourth Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Media inquiries should be directed to Debbie Hutchins, Director of External Relations for the Maseeh College, at (503) 725‐8135 or debbie@cecs.pdx.edu.