Faculty-researchers Katie McConky and Amanda Bao named ELATES Fellows

Katie McConky and Amanda Bao, faculty-researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology, have been selected to the Class of 2024-2025 of Drexel University’s Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) program. The national leadership development program is designed to promote women in academic STEM fields and faculty allies of all genders into institutional leadership roles. 

ELATES Fellows include experts in engineering, mathematics, and science, and McConky and Bao will be among 46 faculty members from institutions of higher education across the U.S. and Canada for this year’s program. They were nominated in recognition of their notable academic and administrative experiences, mentoring of students and junior faculty, as well as significant scholarly accomplishments. 

McConky serves as department head of Industrial and System Engineering in the Kate Gleason College of Engineering, a role she has held since 2023. An expert in operations research and data analytics, applied to the energy, cybersecurity, and transportation sectors, McConky also has extensive industry experience. She has served as lead data scientist for regional business intelligence company TROVE Predictive Data Science.

“As a woman in STEM, I have spent the bulk of my professional development improving my technical skills. It’s rare to be given the space to learn more about yourself and how you interact with others,” said McConky, who has published numerous research papers in the area of energy efficiencies, machine learning approaches, and forecasting methodologies. “I’m excited to be able to tailor goals for my own personal improvement as a leader. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working to become a better leader for my department and the Kate Gleason College of Engineering.”

Bao, professor and interim department chair for the Department of Civil Engineering Technology in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology, brings experience as a bridge structural engineer having worked for major engineering design firms in Denver before starting at RIT in 2010. Since coming to the university, Bao has taught courses and conducted research in structural and bridge engineering and has been a subject matter expert regarding bridge safety and integrity.

“The timing for the ELATES program is perfect for me as I just started the interim department chair role. The ongoing full-year leadership training will significantly enhance my skills in terms of strategic planning, effective finance and resource management, which will benefit my current job immediately,” said Bao.

She has been recognized for excellence in teaching, receiving the American Institute of Steel Construction Advancing Structural Steel Education Award in 2018 and the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching, one of RIT’s highest faculty honors, in 2021. One of her project goals includes expanding the pipeline to recruit and increase the enrollment of engineering technology students.

The intensive, yearlong program includes eight-to-10 hours per week of personal and leadership development work as well as three series of on-site work in the Philadelphia area.

Previous ELATES Fellows include Jennifer Schneider (2014-2015), professor in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology and the Eugene H. Fram Chair of Applied Critical Thinking; Risa Robinson (2014-2105), professor and program director, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Ph.D. Program;  Margaret Bailey (2012-2013), professor of Mechanical Engineering; and Diane Slusarski (2015-2016), associate provost and dean, RIT Graduate School, Academic Affairs.