‘WISE’ Women Honored at Florida Tech Event

MELBOURNE, FLA. — In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Florida Tech Alumni Association celebrated four women – a student, an alumna, a staff member and a faculty member – who embody the spirit of promoting women’s participation and development within the university community.

The annual WISE Awards – Women Inspiring Success and Excellence – held earlier this month in the Hartley Room recognized four recipients. Each seek to help advance, mentor and lead the development of women in the community and workplace.

• Meredith Carroll ’03 M.S., Faculty Excellence Award
• Dana Washington, Joan Bixby Staff Impact Award
• Isabela Perdomo, Student Catalyst Award
• Christie Lynes ’18 M.P.A., Alumna Legacy Award

The WISE Awards were inspired by Joan Bixby, Florida Tech alumna, and former university administrator. Bixby, who earned a Florida Tech master’s degree in contract and procurement management in 1975, started her university career as a development director in 1965 and remained an active member of the university community until her death in December 2011.

Here’s more about each winner.

Meredith Carroll, Ph.D., is a professor of aviation human factors, and founder and director of the Advancing Technology-interaction and Learning in Aviation Systems (ATLAS) Lab at Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics. She has over 20 years of experience studying human/team performance and training in complex systems.

Dana Washington joined Florida Tech Army ROTC as the human resource assistant in April 2014. She began her 10-year military career in 1989 in the U. S. Army as a personnel management specialist. While in the Army, she was stationed in Friedberg, Germany, among other places, and deployed to Desert Storm/Shield. She was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. After receiving her honorable discharge, she worked at Florida Southern College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in human resources management.

Isabela Perdomo is an undergraduate at Florida Tech, pursuing dual degrees in biomedical engineering and computer engineering. She’s president of the Biomedical Engineering Society at Florida Tech and is deeply immersed in research, specializing in 3D bioprinting and biomanufacturing. She researched, engineered and developed an eco-friendly marine antifouling system and has starred in the Emmy Award-winning documentary, “Eco-Hero Antarctica: Expedition to the Bottom of the Earth.”

Christie Lynes ’18 M.P.A., a seasoned business owner and community leader, boasts over two decades of experience in both military and civilian realms. Renowned for her adeptness in orchestrating special events, she has extensively volunteered with school-aged children, military families, Rotary and non-profit organizations. She founded the Melbourne Women Rock Networking Group, a free platform bringing together 1,300 women from diverse industries for monthly in-person meetings. Professionally, she has excelled as a market leader at Best Version Media. 

Experience the event through this gallery of photos.