Newswise — Olin College of Engineering has named Catherine J. Didion as vice president for development, family and alumni relations.
Didion will have overall responsibility for the college’s advancement efforts, including alumni and parent relations, fundraising and major gift cultivation in support of Olin’s strategic goal of transforming engineering education. She will provide leadership within the Department of Development, Family and Alumni Relations and as a member of the president’s cabinet.
“I am delighted that Kitty will be heading up our development efforts,” said Olin President Richard K. Miller. “She brings a depth of experience and leadership in engineering education, along with the ability and passion for the fundraising needed to bring about change. She is a tireless, driven, quick learner with a proven track record in starting successful new networks with national leaders, an ability that will be crucial for us.”
Prior to joining Olin, Didion served as a senior program officer at the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) from 2006, and as director of the Committee on Women in Science, Engineering and Medicine at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine from 2007. Her role was to develop and lead projects in the fields of engineering education, entrepreneurship, workforce development and diversity, including recruiting influential national leaders to serve on committees, finding funding for the projects and providing staff leadership.
She served as executive director of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) from 1990 to 2004, and was vice president from 2004 to 06 at The Didion Group, a public relations/government affairs firm. She also has experience in the U.S. Senate as a committee staff member.
“I am excited to be joining Olin at this key moment in its history,” said Didion. “Olin is poised for even greater leadership in transforming engineering education to create innovators with the knowledge, creativity, and mindset to tackle our planet’s greatest challenges. I look forward to contributing my abilities and efforts to advancing the college toward this goal.”
Among other awards and honors, Didion received an NAE Staff Award in 2014, was selected as one of “100 Women Leaders in STEM” in 2012 by STEMConnector, was named an American Association of Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow in 2005, and received the White House Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring on behalf of AWIS in 1997. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Mount Holyoke College.
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