Katehi will speak at Women’s History Month luncheon

UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi will be the guest speaker at the 26th annual Yolo County Women’s History Month luncheon, planned for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 7,  at the Woodland Community & Senior Center, 2001 East St., Woodland.

March is designated as National Women’s History Month, recognizing and celebrating the history of women in schools, workplaces and communities throughout the country. The theme for the upcoming luncheon is “Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.”

Luncheon tickets are $25 each; proceeds will go toward the purchase of women’s history materials for Yolo County library branches.

The luncheon planning committee selected Katehi for her recognition in STEM.

“Chancellor Katehi is one of the most distinguished women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics today,” says Dotty Pritchard, who chairs the organizing committee. “We are honored to have such an accomplished woman as she as our guest speaker.:

Katehi was one of 12 “Leading Women in STEM” honored at the 2012 California STEM Summit in San Diego. The awards recognize the honorees’ achievements in advancing innovative and effective STEM education initiatives across the state and serving as exemplary role models for California women and girls.

Katehi was awarded a nearly $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation for a program that will increase female participation, particularly Latinas, in STEM careers.

The chancellor was trained as an electrical engineer and has 19 patents in her name. At UCD, she holds joint faculty appointments in electrical and computer engineering and in women and gender studies. Her research focus is in circuit design.

Katehi became the sixth chancellor of UCD on Aug. 17, 2009. As chief executive officer, she oversees all aspects of the university’s teaching, research and public service mission.

A member of the National Academy of Engineering, she chaired until 2010 the President’s Committee for the National Medal of Science and the Secretary of Commerce’s committee for the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is a member of many other national boards and committees.

The committee has coordinated with Patty Wong, Yolo County librarian/archivist, to provide displays and handouts reflecting the theme for Women’s History Month at Yolo County Library branches. Analu K. Josephides, archives/record center manager for the Yolo County Archives, is also working with the committee for archive information on Women’s History Month and provide a display at the luncheon.

To order luncheon tickets, send name, email address, mailing address, phone number and ticket request (including a list of lunch attendees’ names) to Women’s History Month, P.O. Box 711, Woodland, CA 95776. Make checks payable to WHM; payment by credit card may be made at www.ycwhm.org.

Reservations and payment for individual tickets must be received by Friday. For more information, call 530-666-8230 or 530-662-0952.