Press Release

Vance Serves as NSF Program Director

 

AMES, Iowa—Judy M. Vance, professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University, has accepted a temporary assignment at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in Arlington, Virginia, as the program director for engineering design in the Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation Division.

In this role, Vance is responsible for conducting peer reviews of research proposals submitted to the NSF in the area of engineering design. She recommends funding for research grants totaling approximately $6.8 million annually.

“This is an excellent opportunity to serve the research community while advancing the mission and vision of the National Science Foundation,” says Vance. “Engineering design is critical to maintaining and enhancing U.S. competitiveness. In the current global marketplace, new methods of designing products, services, and systems are needed as we seek to leverage the significant advances that have occurred in computing and communications technology.”

Vance has been a member of the NSF Engineering Directorate Advisory Committee for the past two years. Composed of experts from academia, industry, and government, the committee provides input to the directorate on research and education activities and how the directorate can best serve the engineering community and society at large.

At Iowa State, Vance became the first woman to serve as chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering  (ME) in 2003. She began her teaching career while in graduate school and worked her way up through the ME faculty ranks, with promotion to full professor in 2004. Her research emphasis is on virtual reality, investigating innovative ways to use this advanced technology to improve product design and development. She is also a faculty fellow in the Iowa State Virtual Reality Applications Center.

Vance was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International in 2004. She serves on the Executive Committee of the ASME Design Division and is past chair of the ASME Design Automation Committee. Vance has played an active role throughout her career in supporting the advancement of women in science and technology. She is founding president of the Women in Engineering Leadership Institute, a national organization that promotes diversity in engineering academic leadership.

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