Women in Engineering: Make It Happen
Introduction
As a woman in engineering, challenges lie ahead. But UIC knows that you have what it takes to make it happen! We’ve created a special event for female-identified students that is designed to help you target and work through any obstacles you might encounter in your future classes and career.
MIH
Every year, Women in Engineering partners with Knowles Corporation to host Make It Happen — an empowering event designed to bring together UIC engineering students, industry professionals, and alumni.
Through interactive presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, students gain valuable strategies for managing stress as engineers, building meaningful connections, and envisioning their future careers with a UIC degree. The event also features insights from inspiring engineers and leaders who share practical advice on mentorship, leadership, and overcoming self-doubt in STEM.
We are proud to recognize Knowles’ generous support of this program, which includes scholarships for female UIC Engineering students and sponsorship of the Women in Engineering Summer Program. Their commitment to empowering women in STEM continues to open doors and inspire the next generation of leaders.
From interactive sessions to raffles for exciting tech prizes, Make It Happen is more than an event — it’s a celebration of community, growth, and the incredible impact women engineers make every day.
Stay tuned for Make it Happen this academic year!
Highlights from previous MIH
Meet our Past Presenters!
Jane Piro, Human Resource Business Partner, Knowles
Jane Piro, a seasoned professional with a proven track record in talent management and organizational development, partners with managers and executives at the Corporate Headquarters to ensure success in attracting top talent and enhancing employee relations.
Graduating from Roosevelt University in 2015 with a B.S. in professional studies: organizational leadership, Jane seamlessly transitioned into the Human Resources team at Knowles. Her dedication is evident through her championing of the internship program, employee recognition initiatives, and the learning management system, all crucial components in fostering a positive work environment.
Jane is deeply committed to supporting Women in Engineering. She actively collaborates with UIC and Knowles to host the WIESP and Make it Happen event annually, showcasing her passion for diversity and inclusion in the field. Jane’s multifaceted contributions exemplify her commitment to driving positive change within the organization and the broader community.
Evelyn Zurawski, Reliability Engineer at Knowles
Evelyn is a reliability engineer on the quality assurance team, focusing on product reliability, validation, and test method development using her electrical, software, and mechanical expertise. She previously worked at Signify as a Field Quality Engineer, leading teams in applying 8D methodology and ISO/UL standards. Evelyn holds a B.S in Engineering from Loyola University Chicago, where she was a Biomedical Engineering Research Assistant. She’s passionate about innovative problem-solving and mentoring the next generation of engineers. Fun fact: she enjoys creating lifestyle and fashion content in her free time.
Adriana Pena, Sr Engineer, Quality
Adriana is a Sr. Quality Engineer supporting New Product Introduction, factory ramp up into mass production and continues process improvement in manufacturing. She performs activities related to the design, manufacture, problem solving and reliability of Knowles’ specialty transducers. Adriana comes from Mexicali, Mexico where she worked as a Principal Quality Engineer for Collins Aerospace supporting Corporate Quality Initiatives and implementations for external customers, lead a team of 5 Sr. Quality Engineers for a relocation project where
more than 30 production lines where transferred to Mexicali, and was designated as SME (Subject Matter Expert) for PFMEAs (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis). She started her professional career at Robert Bosch Tools de Mexico as a Process Quality Engineer working on a variety of different projects which helped the relocation of existing products manufactured in Germany to the plant in Mexicali. Adriana holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybernetics Electronics Engineering with specialization in Microelectronics and Semiconductors and a M.B.A. in Industrial Engineering and Project Management.
Sabrina Arshad, Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Test Intern
Sabrina Arshad is a Computer Engineering student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She recently interned at Knowles Corporation, where she focused on audio system testing and signal processing. Sabrina has also gained experience in AI, robotics, and machine learning through roles at Zipped Robotics, Vodafone, and Gen 1 Capital. Passionate about leadership and community, she actively contributes to her university by founding the Alpha Omega Epsilon Interest Group and organizing events as a TEDx co-director. A fun fact about Sabrina is that she loves all types of art, from painting to digital design.
Ihsaan Bijapuri, Information Technology Co-op
Ihsaan Bijapuri is a current undergraduate student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) pursuing his B.S. in computer science. Ihsaan is also working at Knowles as an IT Co-op. In addition, Ihsaan is also a teaching assistant for a required computer science course, CS 342 – Software Design. Prior to attending UIC, Ihsaan holds his associate in science at Oakton Community College, where he was also a major member of the Emerging Leaders Student Program. Ihsaan has gained diverse experiences which includes but is not limited to– working with customers while also strengthening his technical skillset, collaborating with teams, and problem solving with critical thinking.
Carol Petersen, UIC Wellness Center
Join us for “Stressed? It’s Not Your Fault,” a session that explores how stress can impact your ability to learn and recall information, ultimately hindering your academic success.
The Wellness Center is dedicated to supporting the personal growth and development of all UIC students. Our mission is to provide knowledge, skills, and experiences that empower students to make healthier choices. By connecting students to relevant and timely lifestyle information, we foster their academic, personal, and professional success.
Embracing the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, we engage with the whole student, offering a comprehensive range of services, resources, referrals, and programs that address their emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, sexual, social, and spiritual needs.