The phrase “the whole is equal to the sum of its parts” generally refers to either a mathematical or a literal description; however, many often express it in the context of the famous philosophical maxim, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This interpretation applies well to what makes up the many parts of the multi-talented, experienced and high-impact leader in education who is P.J. Boardman. Recently, GlobalEngineer (GE) had the opportunity to talk with P.J. about her journey from a child who enjoyed math and problem-solving to a senior global executive at MathWorks a long-standing, highly-valued member of the IFEES-GEDC community. Our conversation highlights are below.

GE: What first inspired you to “think engineering,” and who and what sustained that early interest from then to today?

P.J.: I am number nine in a family of ten from the Boston area, and my family taught me the importance of education in transforming lives and creating bridges for future careers. Thanks to support from my parents and siblings, as well as my teachers who encouraged me as a young girl, I pursued math in my studies and later in my career. My background is in mathematics as well as education and I have always loved problem-solving. Math, problem-solving, and critical
thinking are foundational skills for thinking like an engineer. I have spent my entire career dedicated to education.

GE: Given your recognized leadership in the field, what does MathWorks consider critical to sustain and expand interest and diversity in engineering education and practice?

P.J.: One of the key reasons I joined MathWorks 12 years ago was its dedication to STEM education, with its mission to accelerate the pace of Engineering and Science. Our goal is to offer the best tools for design and innovation to increase human knowledge, prepare students for future careers, and accelerate scientific discovery. At MathWorks, we believe that teams made up of individuals who bring varied perspectives and backgrounds can help foster better solutions.
To expand interest in engineering education, we know we need to start earlier with primary and secondary students to create greater awareness among students from all backgrounds and spark
excitement in engineering.

Our STEM Outreach team achieves this by supporting large regional, national, or global organizations and institutions working in STEM in a variety of ways, including access to MATLAB and Simulink, as well as a rich array of resources. We help students see themselves in STEM by having MathWorks employees give guest lectures to students so they can see the many faces of engineers and myriad opportunities to open pathways for their future studies and careers.

GE: What are a few of the ways MathWorks connects and collaborates with education leaders and institutions as well as industry to advance the technology knowledge, skills and experiences the company views as “must haves” for engineering education and work?

P.J.: First of all, thousands of universities around the world have campus-wide access to MATLAB and Simulink today for research, teaching, and learning initiatives. We offer a range of education
programs for researchers, educators, and students to support them do their best work. In addition, we give talks, webinars, workshops, and participate in conferences and events across the world. A great example of this is the organization’s support of Texas A&M’s Generative AI Literacy Initiative where we will offer expert-led seminars, hands-on workshops, and curriculum resources to support faculty and students and reinforce our commitment to prepare the future workforce with what’s needed to responsibly apply Generative AI across disciplines. With more than 100,000 professional organizations, including 6,500 universities, and over 5 million MATLAB users, we work to build a bridge that ensures future engineers are ready to contribute to the workforce upon graduation. We have teams in 34 offices around the world continually expanding our ecosystem to be impactful with academia and industry collaborations.

GE: What do you see as among the most valuable benefits of being an active and engaged member and supporter of IFEES?

P.J.: IFEES-GEDC connects a unique global network of educators and business leaders as part of a community empowered and committed to improving engineering education together. One of the
greatest benefits of being a member is engagement with this global community, exchanging ideas, and celebrating worldwide leaders and best practices. One example of this is the Duncan Fraser Award, which MathWorks sponsors to recognize Excellence in Engineering Education. A second key benefit is the opportunity to make relationships that have deepened over time and launched impactful collaborations. I believe these global connections, collaborations,
celebrations of best practices, and creative ideas for breakthrough initiatives are some of the most rewarding benefits of being an active member and champion of IFEES.

You can learn more about P.J. Boardman as well as find the entire text of her Leadership Profile at https://www.ifees.net/member/mathworks/