Beatrice Hicks
Encyclopedia
Beatrice Alice Hicks was an outstanding engineer
, helping to found the Society of Women Engineers
in 1950.
Born in Orange, New Jersey
, she attended Orange High School
. She received a bachelor's degree
in chemical engineering
from Newark College of Engineering (now known as New Jersey Institute of Technology) in 1939, a master's degree
in physics
from Stevens Institute of Technology
in 1949. She received honorary doctorates of science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges
in 1958, and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
in 1965. She married Rodney Duane Chipp in 1948.
In 1941, Beatrice became the first female employee of Western Electric
. After her father's death in 1946 she joined his company Newark Controls Company as vice president and chief engineer. In 1955 she became president of the company.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, helping to found the Society of Women Engineers
Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers , founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for...
in 1950.
Born in Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, she attended Orange High School
Orange High School (New Jersey)
Orange High School is a three-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in tenth through twelfth grades from Orange in Essex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Orange Board of Education...
. She received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
from Newark College of Engineering (now known as New Jersey Institute of Technology) in 1939, a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
from Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
in 1949. She received honorary doctorates of science from Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
in 1958, and from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
in 1965. She married Rodney Duane Chipp in 1948.
In 1941, Beatrice became the first female employee of Western Electric
Western Electric
Western Electric Company was an American electrical engineering company, the manufacturing arm of AT&T from 1881 to 1995. It was the scene of a number of technological innovations and also some seminal developments in industrial management...
. After her father's death in 1946 she joined his company Newark Controls Company as vice president and chief engineer. In 1955 she became president of the company.
Sources
- http://www2.worldbook.com/features/whm/html/ahicks.html World Book
- http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=189 National Woman's Hall of Fame
- http://www.swe.org/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=swe_000451&ssSourceNodeId=75 Society of Woman Engineers