Wilkistar Otieno, associate professor and department chair, industrial & manufacturing engineering, was named the 2022 STEM Forward Engineer of the Year, an award that recognizes outstanding contributors to the engineering profession from the greater Milwaukee area. She will receive the award Feb. 15 at the organization’s 70th annual Celebration of STEM banquet.
STEM Forward is a Milwaukee-based non-profit organization that inspires youth to pursue STEM careers.
Otieno was selected from a pool of highly qualified nominees who are committed to advancing the engineering profession and inspiring others. An independent judging panel evaluated and selected the nominees. Past winners have raised the visibility of the profession and the region while serving as role models to many.
Despite the many demands for her attention as a department chair, associate professor and researcher, Otieno devotes significant time to inspiring the next generation of engineers, which increasingly includes students of differing backgrounds. She has a passion for teaching statistical-related courses and inspiring student involvement.
Her industry-driven research involves sustainable manufacturing, particularly remanufacturing and machine learning.
Otieno is co-director of the U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Assessment Center at UWM. At the invitation of the chancellor, she serves as an assistant to the vice chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on the UWM 2030 Action Plan. She has served in various leadership positions in the Milwaukee’s IEEE section (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). IEEE has sponsored STEM Forward activities for many years; its members serve as judges of the STEM Forward K-12 Smart City competitions, whose winners will be featured during this year’s Celebration of Stem bequest.
In October, UW System presented Otieno with an Outstanding Women of Color in Education award.