WITS Conferences At Limestone College March 14-15

Limestone College will host a pair of Women In Technology & Sciences (WITS) Conferences on Thursday, March 14, and Friday, March 15, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. each day.

The keynote speaker at each day’s luncheon will be Dr. Bobbie Watts, the Director of Ergonomics for Michelin Americas.

Nearly 200 sophomore and junior girls from area high schools are expected to attend the conferences. Participants will be mentored by Limestone's female faculty and students through a series of training workshops.

Registration will begin each day at 8:15 a.m. at Fullerton Auditorium. Various workshops will take place across campus throughout each morning, followed by lunch in the Stephenson Dining Hall Banquet Room.

Watts, the featured speaker, has over 20 years of experience in the field of Industrial Engineering, Ergonomics, and Human Factors.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University and her Masters and Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Auburn University.  Her previous work experience includes roles as the Corporate Human Factors Engineer for UPS, consultant for the USPS and American Express, and the Corporate Ergonomics Manager for Coca-Cola Refreshments.  At Michelin Americas, she has the responsibility of managing the Ergonomics program and network for all activities including tire manufacturing, logistics, and tire servicing.

“Limestone is well-suited to once again offer a conference such as this because half of the faculty in science and health-related disciplines at Limestone are women with terminal degrees,” explained WITS Program Director Dr. Michelle Phillips-Meek, who is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Limestone.

The WITS Conference has received financial support from both Duke Energy and Broad River Electric Cooperative. In 2013, the Duke Energy Foundation provided $50,000 that was used to transform a Limestone science lab into one akin to those seen on the popular “CSI” television series as well as to provide additional high-tech equipment. Broad River Electric Cooperative’s gifts are made possible through its Operation Round Up. Via that program, the monthly balances of participating members’ accounts are rounded up to the nearest dollar. That extra change goes to a benevolent fund that assists organizations and goodwill missions in and around Broad River’s service area.