State Director, CT College of Technology; Executive Director & Principal Investigator, Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, USA.

Female Retention in Engineering & Technology using Problem Based Learning
Parallel: Interventions to improve participation, retention, and leadership

Dr Karen Wosczyna-Birch has been a champion of engaging women in nontraditional careers that include engineering and technology education for the past 30 years. Since 1995, she has been the state director of the CT College of Technology where through her leadership she has been instrumental in creating a nationally recognized seamless pathway in engineering and technology programs between all 12 public community colleges in CT with eight universities and over 30 high schools. She is also the Executive Director of the Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence and a Professor at Tunxis Community College.

She serves on numerous boards including the International Honor Society EPT, the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Center, and Hartford High's Academy of Engineering and Green Technology. In 2014, she was invited to the White House College Opportunity Summit where educators across the U.S. were recognized for their dedication and commitment to educating the future workforce.