2008 Women of Color Honorees
Managerial Leadership New Media (IT Leadership)
Dianne Chong Mina Stewart
Director, Material & Process Technology Executive Director
Commercial Airplanes IT Verizon Partner Solutions Automation Systems
The Boeing Company Verizon
BA–Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign MIS–Information Systems Management, University of Maryland, University
BS–Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College
MS–Physiology, University of Illinois in Chicago
MS, PhD–Metallurgical Engineering, University of Illinois in Chicago Mina Stewart has forged a career
Executive MBA, Washington University in St. Louis
highlighted by acumen and inno-
The story of Dianne Chong’s career shows
vation. Her job as executive direc-
how a winding path can lead to a major
tor of IT Verizon partner solutions
position.
automation systems puts her at
the helm of national procurement,
In the 1970s, she earned two bachelor’s
business-to-business interfaces,
degrees in social and life sciences. Then,
and workflow applications for
spent time as a research technologist. Next,
large retail and domestic whole-
she secured back-to-back master’s degrees,
sale markets.
followed by a doctorate. Chong is a knowl-
edge-hungry multi-tasker. But instead of
“The soft skills, or people skills,
teaching, she joined McDonnell Douglas Astronautics as a
are equally important,” Stewart
37-year old engineer. Not quite through with education, she
says. “Over the years, I’ve learned how to use those skills to
earned an MBA.
better advance projects and communicate with my custom-
ers,” she says. “It is one thing to build technology, but it takes
Chong chuckles when asked if she planned to accumulate
different skill sets to communicate its benefits.” Stewart’s
so many degrees. “No. I added the pieces as I changed my
approach to technology is to build applications that make the
plans,” she says. The big change came after she earned a
experience user friendly.
physiology degree and was primed for a PhD. Her brother,
an engineer urged her to consider engineering. “He said I
That message forms the essence of the mentoring sessions
would enjoy analyzing and making judgment calls,” she says.
Stewart conducts through Verizon diversity programs: Com-
puter scientists need to be as good with people as they are
Now Chong is responsible for researching and developing
with technology.
strong, lightweight, and cost-effective airplane materials. She
manages more than 1,000 employees and oversees a budget
Stewart bootstrapped her interest in STEM. As a high school
of more than $150 million.
student, a relative of hers brought home one of the first PCs
that hit the market. “I did not know how to use it,” she recalls,
She grew up in Chicago, and her mother, who earned a GED
“But I tried to figure it out.” The experience sparked her
and community college degree at 69, set the standard. “Her
interest in computer science. “I was fortunate enough not to
achievement taught me vision, and I use that in my work,”
waver,” she says.
Chong says .
Professional Achievement
Christyl Johnson
Assistant Associate Administrator
Office of the Administrator
NASA Headquarters- Washington, DC
BS-Lincoln University
MS-Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
PhD Candidate-Systems Engineering, George Washington University
The next big thing at NASA is to return astronauts to the moon by 2015 with a new crew exploration vechi-
cle, says Christyl Johnson. She is the deputy to the third highest- ranking official at NASA making her one of
the most senior women of color in the federal workforce.
Johnson, 41, began her career at Langley Research Center in 1985 designing and building laser components and systems. She
also established optic laboratory capabilities to develop methods for measuring crystals used in lasers.
Her skills and leadership rocketed her to higher positions. Now, she oversees the agency’s planning, direction, organization and
control of technical and programmatic operations. NASA has 17,900 employees and a $17 billion budget.
Johnson also mentors and spends time visiting the Girls in Engineering Math and Science summer camp where participants get
a chance to do rocketry, robotics, and product design. “I am seeing a real interest in our young girls and they are seeing that
they can do whatever they set their minds to do,” she says.
34 WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2008 www.womenofcolor.net
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