The Southern Automotive Women's Forum

On May 20, 2011, Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) co-hosted a School Open House sponsored by The Southern Automotive Women's Forum, to introduce 58 young women in the Upstate of South Carolina to the benefits of an exceptional career in the automotive industry. The Southern Automotive Women's Forum's primary objective is to provide academic scholarships for young women who are interested in the fields of engineering and support development of the next generation of women.

Woodmont Middle School, Beck Academy, Northwest Middle School, Lakeview Middle School, and Riverside Middle School each brought approximately 12 of their hand-selected female students to the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center, where they listened to inspiring stories from Heather Lyndon and Cherie McCain of BMW Manufacturing, CU-ICAR's Ala Qattawi, and the successful women of Nissan including SAWF's President, Susan Brennan. The young women also participated in a team competition of a vehicle configuration activity lead by several CU-ICAR graduate students and presented their final product for feedback.

SAWF Board Members Beverly Hannah-Jones, Nicole Nielsen, Rupa DeLoach and Suzanne Dickerson facilitated the successful event. 

For more information contact:  Suzanne Dickerson at sdicker@clemson.edu.