Sandia National Laboratories’ Robin Jones and Kimberly Pino recently were recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as Women Worth Watching in Leadership award winners for 2022, while Sondra Spence received a Women Worth Watching in STEM award.
The leadership award recognizes those who work to expand and improve diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace and beyond, while the STEM award recognizes high-achieving women in science, technology, engineering or math who are blazing trails for other women to build successful STEM careers.
Women Worth Watching in Leadership
Robin Jones, a manager in building systems engineering, became an environmental engineer to help improve the environment and provide people with clean water and air. “It’s in the intersection of people and the environment that I found my passion,” she said.
Part of the draw for Jones is the notion that, when done correctly, no one knows the field exists. “When water comes out of the tap and toilets flush and traffic signals change, no one thinks about the numerous engineers working hard for public health and safety,” she said. “We might not be visible, but we can take pride in our work.”
Jones earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and a master’s in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University. She’s currently focused on transitioning Sandia’s campuses to net-zero emissions. “With earth and ocean temperatures rising, net-zero is urgent to help mitigate climate change,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at one of our national laboratories.”