WRISE announces 2023 Rudd Mayer Fellowship and Wind at Our Backs recipients
The eight awardees will attend ACP’s CLEANPOWER conference in New Orleans this May
Brooklyn, NY — WRISE has selected six 2023 Rudd Mayer Fellows and two 2023 Wind at Our Backs Scholars. Each year, WRISE awards these fellowships on a competitive basis to current college students or recent graduates who identify as women and other marginalized genders. The Rudd Mayer Fellowship began in 2011 and honors wind industry pioneer Rudd Mayer of Boulder, Colorado, who passed away in 2002. The Wind at Our Backs Scholarship was launched in 2016 and is intended to support women and marginalized genders in degree and training programs for wind technicians. Both the fellowship and the scholarship aim to further diversify the wind energy workforce and the greater renewable energy workforce.
Meet the 2023 Rudd Mayer Fellows:
- Ashley Bailey, The City College of New York, BA – Environmental Engineering
- Shweta Dabetwar, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, PhD – Mechanical Engineering
- Chelsea Idahosa, University of California, San Diego, BS – Management
- Emma Korein, University of Delaware, PhD – Marine Policy
- Serena Lipari-DiLeonardo, University of Colorado, Boulder, PhD – Applied Mathematics, Atmospheric Science
- Jennifer Perugi, Farmingdale State College, BS – Industrial Technology & Facility Management, Wind Turbine Technology
Meet the 2023 Wind at Our Backs Scholars:
- Jacqueline Agbay, Northwest Renewable Energy Institute, Certificate – Wind Technician
- Victoria Fajardo, Northwest Renewable Energy Institute, Diploma – Wind Turbine and Telecom Technician
“This year’s fellows are incredibly driven, and I’m excited to see them continue their extraordinary work and impact in the industry,” said Doseke Akporiaye, Executive Director of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy. “Clean energy is at a pivotal moment, and now more than ever we need diverse representation and leadership in this space. If we wish to see the systemic changes that are critical to ushering in this new era of renewables, we have to be deliberate in creating opportunities to advance equitable workforce development. I’m pleased that WRISE can do its part by providing these students with the tools and access to further their careers in this space.”
The fellowship and scholarship will cover the cost to attend the annual CLEANPOWER Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans; this year’s fellowship will also have a virtual professional development component through June.
The fellows will be recognized at ACP’s Energy Transition for All Luncheon from 11:30am – 1pm CT at CLEANPOWER.
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About the Rudd Mayer Fellowship:
The Rudd Mayer Fellowship is WRISE’s way of supporting women in the academic community, college students and recent graduates, who are interested in expanding their knowledge and engaging in the renewable energy field by attending the CLEANPOWER Conference & Exhibition.
About the Wind at Our Backs Scholarship:
The Wind at Our Backs Scholarship was launched in 2016 for women and marginalized genders in or graduating from degree and training programs for wind technicians. The goal is to further diversify the wind energy workforce. Currently, wind technicians are one of the fastest growing careers in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, but diversity in this sector remains a challenge. The Wind at Our Back Scholarship is made possible with the generous support of Vestas.
Both of these annual fellowship and scholarship opportunities are awarded on a competitive basis and selection is based on commitment to renewable energy development, academic achievement, potential for future contributions to the U.S. renewable energy community, and financial need.
About Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy:
Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) formerly called Women of Wind Energy (WoWE) was founded in 2005 to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and equitable energy future by igniting the collective power of community. WRISE has local chapters across the US and Canada; national programming that includes the annual luncheon, leadership forum, fellowships, the speakers bureau, and webinar series; and a growing grassroots network of more than 15,000 participants. The organization is supported through hundreds of volunteer hours and the generous contributions of individuals as well as corporate partners.