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Alumni Spotlight: Lois Graham

Lois Graham has many firsts under her belt; she was the first woman to graduate in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1945. She was the first to receive a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and the first to receive a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in the country. Lois Graham was an engineering educator for thirty-six years.

Lois Graham was born and bought up in Troy, New York. She wanted to go into medical profession when she was child. She was a great admirer of Amelia Earhart and got interested in aviation, which paved her way to consider studying aeronautical engineering.

After graduating from RPI she joined Carrier Corporation in Syracuse in the testing department for 18 months. As she wanted to continue her studies she joined IIT as a graduate assistant. In 1949, she became the first faculty member in the mechanical engineering department, and continued her teaching at IIT until she became full professor in 1975.

She also served as Assistant Dept Chair and briefly as Acting Dept Chair. After working as assistant Chairman for sometime in IIT, she ventured into a program called Experience, Education and Engineering (E  program) funded by NSF [National Science Foundation]. In her tenure in IIT she worked for a program to increase the number of minorities in the school. She served as Chairman of the Women’s Engineering Program; as Program Coordinator of the Early Identification Spring Program; Director of the Minorities in Engineering Program, an innovative program that received national recognition; and as Director of Motivation and Support for the Greater Chicago Area Program for increasing Minorities in Engineering by working with high school students.

Graham was an active member of professional organization which includes SWE (Society of Women Engineers) and also served as president (1955-56). Others include the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers, and the American Society for Engineering Education. She has earned several honors and has published extensively in engineering, scientific, educational and management subjects.

With such a prolific career Lois has been an inspiration to many, using her accolades and achievements as a publicity tool to encourage young women to gain interest in engineering over the years.