UT ENGINEERING NEWS
Contact Info:
Jamie Puryear, 512.232.5550, jpuryear@mail.utexas.edu
June 15, 2004

Polito Among 100 Selected for Leadership Texas 2004

Cath Polito, Executive Director of the UT College of Engineering's Center for Lifelong Engineering Education, has recently been selected to be part of a group of 100 from across the state who will attend Leadership Texas 2004.

Polito, who joined UT in 2001, brings to the prestigious workshop series her marketing expertise based on a successful 17-year track record in strategic planning and operations, communications, public relations, project management and branding. Prior to coming to work for UT, she owned and operated an advertising/design/public relations firm for a dozen years; and she has held marketing and public relations posts with several Austin-based organizations. She earned a master's degree in science and technology commercialization from UT Austin in 2002.

"I feel honored to be included in such a diverse group of strong women," said Polito. "After our first meeting, we were already building collaborations and linkages that I hope will continue to grow and flourish over time."

Leadership Texas 2004 represents the 21st consecutive year for the event, which is sponsored by the Foundation for Women's Resources (FWR), headquartered in Austin. Over the course of the next year, women leaders selected for the program will attend five workshops, each three days in length, to be held at Austin, Bryan-College Station, San Antonio, Amarillo, and Dallas.

Since its founding in 1983, the mission of Leadership Texas has remained the same - to bring together Texas women who have demonstrated their leadership ability in their profession, community, or workplace. The network of women formed by Leadership Texas forms the backbone of the group and now boasts an alumnae association over 2,000. The relationships formed within the network have proven to be of extreme value to the members through aiding the leaders throughout their careers by providing a framework for continuous brainstorm with their peers across the state.

According to the Leadership Texas' website (http://www.leadershiptexas.com ), Leadership Texas is designed to provide valuable education and training to Texas women leaders. The goal is to improve the members' leadership skills and expand their knowledge of the diverse issues, dynamics and cultures that impact the State of Texas. The class of 2004 includes Presidents, Vice Chancellors, Vice Presidents, CPAs, Directors, attorneys, and engineers who are committed to creating a network of resilient women leaders.

Leadership Texas sessions are held around the state in an effort to give participants first-hand knowledge of the diversity that exists between and within Texas regions. Cities that are selected act as a backdrop to the presentations and discussions and are chosen for their unique cultural and historical aspects.

As FWR puts it, "In a state as large and varied as Texas, there are areas of the state that even native Texans have never visited. By meeting around the state, program participants gain first-hand knowledge of the very real differences that exist between and within regions of the state."

About the Center for Lifelong Engineering Education

The University of Texas at Austin's Center for Lifelong Engineering Education (CLEE) is an innovative leader in the training and professional development industry. For over 30 years, CLEE's commitment has remained simple: to provide training that makes a profound difference in people's lives and work. With more than 100 programs worldwide offered across multi-disciplines, CLEE brings to individuals, organizations, and industry the best the top 12 College of Engineering has to offer: cutting-edge research, solid academic reputation, and extensive faculty experience. The end result is relevant, diverse education opportunities that transform lives.

CLEE's services include public classroom training, Master's Degree Programs, eTraining, onsite courses, and customizable training. Current topic areas include: aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, engineering business & management, mechanical, petroleum, six sigma, and software.