Joyce W. Yen B.A. Mathematics University of Nebraska-Lincoln M.S. and Ph.D. Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Program/Research Manager, ADVANCE Program, University of Washington

A mathematical background is a great springboard for variety of careers. Mathematics is a creative field which fosters reasoning and logic skills and encourages tenacity and curiosity.  In graduate school, I studied operations research, which uses mathematical models to help guide decision making in a wide array of applications (airline crew scheduling, telecommunications network design, breast cancer screening, organ transplant allocation, security detector location, etc.). After graduate school, I began a career as a professor in Industrial Engineering at the University of Washington (UW) but eventually switched careers. I’m now the Program/Research Manager for UW's National Science Foundation-funded ADVANCE program. This program supports the participation and advancement of women faculty in science and engineering. I design activities and resources which support women faculty and encourage and advocate a welcoming and supportive academic culture. I still use my mathematical problem solving skills to find creative solutions. Moreover, my technical background helps me successfully communicate with science and engineering faculty.  My mathematical background is excellent foundation upon which to build my career.