Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame at the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science

Portland State University recognizes the contributions of prominent women in technology and engineering by establishing the Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame. After earning her doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Denice Dee Denton excelled as a faculty member, a dean of engineering, and a chancellor for a major public institution with exceptional skill and wisdom. Her lifetime of accomplishments and accolades serves as inspirations for fellow women engineers and technologists. The Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Hall of Fame honors in perpetuity those who have similarly made significant impact on our lives through their dedication to the engineering profession. Beginning in 2008, the Hall of Fame annually honors one outstanding female engineer and one outstanding Maseeh College female engineering student.

Each year, two individuals will be inducted into the Hall of Fame one an Outstanding Female Engineering Student enrolled in the Maseeh College, the other an Outstanding Female Engineer practicing professionally. Successful candidates for induction will exhibit academic and/or professional excellence, be engaged with their community, and will have proven their exceptional leadership skills through the inspiration of others. Student nominations are presented to the Dean, through each of the academic departments of the Maseeh College, by November 1.

The Maseeh College congratulates
Ursula M. Burns and Lisa S. Diercksen,
2009 inductees to the Denice Dee Denton
Women Engineers Hall of Fame.

Ursula M. Burns holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of NYU and a master of science degree in mechanical engineering from Columbia University.    She serves on professional and community boards, including American Express Corp., CASA - the National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, FIRST - For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, National Academy Foundation, MIT, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the University of Rochester.  Burns joined Xerox in 1980 as a mechanical engineering summer intern.  She held several positions in engineering with Xerox.  From 1992 to 2000, she lead business teams in the office color and fax business and office network copying business.  In 2000, Burns was named senior vice president, Corporate Strategic Services, heading up manufacturing and supply chain operations.  In 2002, Burns was named president of Xerox Business Group Operations.  She is also an elected member of the Xerox Board of Directors.  On July 1, Burns will be appointed CEO of Xerox.

Lisa S. Diercksen holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University and is currently enrolled in the master of science in civil engineering degree program at PSU.  Ms. Diercksen is a graduate research assistant in the Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory at PSU.  She has completed internships with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc (Phoenix, AZ), and TranSystems Corporation (Kansas City, MO).   Ms. Diercksen is a member of the Chi Epsilon, a civil engineering honor society, and has served as president and vice-president of Students in Transportation Engineering and Planning (STEP).  In 2008, Ms. Diercksen presented at the Intelligent Transportation Systems World Congress (ITSWC) held in New York. 

Members of the Denice Dee Denton Women Engineers Fall of Hame