Announcing the FY23 Affinity Group Work Group Lead-Elects
November 16, 2022
We are pleased to announce the addition of Lead-Elects for the DEI, BI, and CS Affinity Group categories. As the affinity groups grow, we wanted continuity from year to year to better support the affinity groups. The FY23 Lead-Elects will serve as Lead-Elects for the remainder of FY23, and become the Leads in FY24. The SWE Affinity Groups (AGs) mission is to bring together communities that share similar interests and backgrounds that support the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategic goals of SWE. The SWE Affinity Groups framework includes Building Community, Professional Development, and Member Empowerment. We are pleased that the affinity groups have now grown to 17 AGs, and more groups will be announced soon.
Congratulations to Purva Vaidya, Rishika Shekhawat, and Amber Kreceman for being selected for these key positions.
The SWE Affinity Groups are organized into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion AGs, Business and Interests AGs, and Career Stages AGs. DEI AGs are focused on the needs of social minority populations and support initiatives tailored to serve these communities. BI AGs are focused on the members’ business environment and career experiences. CS AGs are focused on the different stages of the work lives of our members.
Congratulations to Purva Vaidya, Rishika Shekhawat, and Amber Kreceman for being selected for these key positions.
The SWE Affinity Groups are organized into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion AGs, Business and Interests AGs, and Career Stages AGs. DEI AGs are focused on the needs of social minority populations and support initiatives tailored to serve these communities. BI AGs are focused on the members’ business environment and career experiences. CS AGs are focused on the different stages of the work lives of our members.
Purva Vaidya
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion AG Work Group Lead-Elect
Purva Vaidya is a Senior Consultant with Project Farma, a patient-focused consulting firm providing biomanufacturing strategy and execution in the advanced therapy space. In this role, she has supported and led diverse, cross-functional teams in delivering cell and gene therapy manufacturing suites to ensure that these treatments are available to the patients who need them.
Purva has been an active member of SWE since she was in college, where she served as Membership Chair and Membership Director for her collegiate section and supported start-up of her section’s HeForSWE initiative. Purva continues to support SWE at the society level, as she has served as the HeForSWE Affinity Group Co-Lead since July 2021.
Purva received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University. She lives in Philadelphia, PA and in her free time loves to read, try out new cookie recipes, and hike.
Purva is excited to take on the role of DEI AG Work Group Lead-Elect and support the DEI AGs to accomplish their goals and grow their communities.
Purva has been an active member of SWE since she was in college, where she served as Membership Chair and Membership Director for her collegiate section and supported start-up of her section’s HeForSWE initiative. Purva continues to support SWE at the society level, as she has served as the HeForSWE Affinity Group Co-Lead since July 2021.
Purva received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University. She lives in Philadelphia, PA and in her free time loves to read, try out new cookie recipes, and hike.
Purva is excited to take on the role of DEI AG Work Group Lead-Elect and support the DEI AGs to accomplish their goals and grow their communities.
Rishika Shekhawat
Business and Interests AG Work Group Lead-Elect
Rishika Shekhawat is the Supervisor of the Hydraulics Design Team for Construction & Forestry Equipment at John Deere, India. In this role, Rishika leads a team that designs hydraulic systems and develops innovative concepts to create product value for customers while enhancing business. She has hydraulics experience of 10 years in the off-road industry.
Rishika completed her B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering at VNIT, Nagpur and M. Tech in Design Engineering, at BITS Pilani in India. She is also a certified Hydraulics Specialist from International Fluid Power Society and a Six Sigma Green Belt. She is also a recipient of the John Deere 2020 Enterprise Innovation Award for John Deere Load-N-Go™. She has won the SWE 2021 Patent Recognition Award for US Patent 10827664 and the SWE WE Local New Elite 2021 Award.
Rishika joined and participated in SWE activities for the first time as an employee at John Deere India. Inspired by SWE’s vision and mission, Rishika has successfully participated with increasing responsibilities in SWE events at John Deere. Currently she is serving as the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group (GWE-AG) Lead and is also a member of the SWE Awards & Recognition Committee.
Rishika is also empowering the community by mentoring undergrad students and John Deere interns. Rishika sincerely believes in empowerment through education and she is focused on advocating for education and technology for female engineers. Hence, she has participated in many events to encourage next generation’s involvement in STEM field.
Rishika is eager to begin working as the FY23 SWE Business & Interests AG Work Group Lead-Elect. She has worked with this team for 3 years now and is excited to help the Affinity Groups provide community and support for their members. In her free time, Rishika likes to travel and enjoy adventure sports.
Rishika completed her B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering at VNIT, Nagpur and M. Tech in Design Engineering, at BITS Pilani in India. She is also a certified Hydraulics Specialist from International Fluid Power Society and a Six Sigma Green Belt. She is also a recipient of the John Deere 2020 Enterprise Innovation Award for John Deere Load-N-Go™. She has won the SWE 2021 Patent Recognition Award for US Patent 10827664 and the SWE WE Local New Elite 2021 Award.
Rishika joined and participated in SWE activities for the first time as an employee at John Deere India. Inspired by SWE’s vision and mission, Rishika has successfully participated with increasing responsibilities in SWE events at John Deere. Currently she is serving as the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group (GWE-AG) Lead and is also a member of the SWE Awards & Recognition Committee.
Rishika is also empowering the community by mentoring undergrad students and John Deere interns. Rishika sincerely believes in empowerment through education and she is focused on advocating for education and technology for female engineers. Hence, she has participated in many events to encourage next generation’s involvement in STEM field.
Rishika is eager to begin working as the FY23 SWE Business & Interests AG Work Group Lead-Elect. She has worked with this team for 3 years now and is excited to help the Affinity Groups provide community and support for their members. In her free time, Rishika likes to travel and enjoy adventure sports.
Amber Kreceman
Career Stages AG Work Group Lead-Elect
Amber Kreceman is a Senior Manager in the Department 22 program management office for Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RIS), a business of Raytheon Technologies. She leads a cross-functional team developing cutting-edge technology and is responsible for execution, schedule, and cost of $33M in active and projected advanced radar strategic system programs and $6M in internal research and development efforts.
Since 2013, Amber has held multiple leadership roles within SWE at the collegiate, professional and society level. Most recently, Amber has held the Dallas SWE Executive Vice President position and led the formation and inaugural year of the SWE Early Career Professionals Affinity Group. She has a passion for forming and fostering community within SWE and is thrilled to start her role as Career Stages Affinity Group Lead-Elect.
Kreceman holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and bachelor’s in biomedical engineering, all from the University of Tennessee. Amber is also a graduate of the Raytheon Engineering Leadership Development Program. Amber lives in Texas with her husband and two children. In her spare time, Amber support multiple DEI initiatives at Raytheon and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Since 2013, Amber has held multiple leadership roles within SWE at the collegiate, professional and society level. Most recently, Amber has held the Dallas SWE Executive Vice President position and led the formation and inaugural year of the SWE Early Career Professionals Affinity Group. She has a passion for forming and fostering community within SWE and is thrilled to start her role as Career Stages Affinity Group Lead-Elect.
Kreceman holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and bachelor’s in biomedical engineering, all from the University of Tennessee. Amber is also a graduate of the Raytheon Engineering Leadership Development Program. Amber lives in Texas with her husband and two children. In her spare time, Amber support multiple DEI initiatives at Raytheon and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
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