Dr. Sylvia Wilson Thomas is currently Assistant Dean for Diversity and External Affairs in the College of Engineering at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. In this capacity, Dr. Thomas strengthens and further develops relationships and programs with external supporters from industry, government and academia to increase the quantity, quality and diversity of student, faculty and staff population in the College of Engineering in support of university directives. She also instructs and mentors students in the areas of Electrical Engineering and the Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Research Center (NNRC).
In addition to these efforts, Dr. Thomas is a motivational speaker/consultant for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ( STEM) education, continued/graduate education, K-12 efforts, career transitioning, mentoring and professional development, and she provides inspirational lectures to community organizations and professional societies. Her involvement and constant dedication to STEM education and professional development have led to her recognition in national news and publications including a United Nations-NGO Briefing on “Girls and Technology: New Educational Opportunities” (March, 2004), the Electronic Design, 50 th Anniversary Issue (November, 2002), U.S. News and World Report (Oct. 1998) and her appearance on the National Engineer's Week satellite broadcast which aired to middle/high school students (February 23, 2000) and on the PBS Channel One station (April 5, 2000).
Author of several technical and non-technical articles, Dr. Thomas holds 2 patents in microelectronics processing and continues to participate across the country in numerous conferences, seminars and workshops.She is involved in various organizations, serving as the chairman of the Engineering Workforce Commission of the American Association of Engineering Societies (AAES), co-chair of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA) Workforce and Career Policy committee and participating with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the National Association of Minority Engineering Program Administrators (NAMEPA), the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), IEEE Women in Engineering, and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
She has assisted in the success of such companies and organizations as Agere Systems formerly Lucent Technologies Bell Labs, the GEM Program, ITT Technical Institute, Kimberly Clark Corp., IBM, and Procter & Gamble.
She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, where she was a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow. Dr. Thomas received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, as a NSF Materials Research Center of Excellence Fellow. Dr. Thomas was a National Science Foundation (NSF) research engineer in Korea at CHONBUK NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.
Dr. Thomas continues to pursue new and exciting adventures and welcomes speaking invitations and consulting engagements from companies, agencies, colleges/universities, and associations.
