Elizabeth Jones

When Elizabeth Jones was looking for a university to attend, she was searching for a multifaceted experience with undergraduate research, student organization leadership and excellent academics. In the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, she found that and so much more.

As a high-performing electrical engineer, she studies communication, signal processing and control systems that play a role in many of the technologies we use every day. She has conducted research on this topic with Professor Daniel Bliss. 

Her research has also delved into issues of diversity and inclusion in engineering. In the Grand Challenges Scholars Program and as an honors student in Barrett, The Honors College, she has studied gender equality in engineering and factors that contribute to student success and a sense of belonging.

Jones’ student organization leadership experience has overlapped with her diversity advocacy in the ASU section of the Society of Women Engineers, known as SWE. 

“From the women who I have been able to work alongside in leadership to the members who have become friends and peers, and the mentors I have been granted, I will forever accredit my collegiate success to this organization and will strive to continue to be an active member.”

In various leadership roles including president, she grew membership, spearheaded volunteer efforts and promoted diversity in engineering with events like GEAR Day. 

Her efforts in this area of her college career earned her one of 10 national Society of Women Engineers Outstanding Collegiate Member awards, which recognize her contributions to SWE, the engineering community and ASU.

“Diversity in engineering is a cornerstone of my identity as an engineer,” she says. “It is an honor to be a part of a platform within SWE that allows me to use my time, skills and voice to advocate for inclusion in engineering. It was an honor to be the first-ever Sun Devil to receive this recognition.”

Jones says SWE has been not only her support system, but a community of friends and a place where she gained confidence in her ability to become a professional engineer. The organization even helped her gain two internships with Northrop Grumman and showed her she belonged in the aerospace and defense industry.

At her internships, she received recognition for not only her technical skills, but her efforts in helping other interns and creating a sense of community with her peers. 

“My leadership experience and my technical skills have shown me that not only can I, but I will be a leader in the engineering community and make significant technical contributions as an engineer,” she says. 

Lecturer Alicia Baumann has been an influential person in Jones’ development throughout her four years at ASU.

“Her mentorship in my life has not gone unnoticed and it is greatly in thanks to her that I have found my voice as a leader and engineer and have helped others to do the same,” Jones says.

After she graduates, Jones will be interning with Raytheon Technologies in Tucson and then returning to ASU in the fall to complete her master’s degree in electrical engineering as part of the 4+1 accelerated master’s degree program.

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ Spring 2021 class here.