Genevieve Powell ’25 was recently awarded a DeRocco Fellowship, which recognizes aspiring women leaders in manufacturing. Powell, graduated from Lehigh’s IDEAS (Integrated Degree in Engineering, Arts and Sciences) program with concentrations in mechanical engineering (ME) and sociology, is now pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering.
“I think having the unique background of both technical skills in ME and the understanding of social context and social responsibility is really important,” says Powell, who decided to deepen her technical knowledge through graduate studies to maximize opportunities for an industry career.
The DeRocco fellowship was created in remembrance of Emily Stover DeRocco, a leader in the manufacturing world who served as Assistant U.S. Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training and as president of the Manufacturing Institute, the research, education and workforce arm of the National Association of Manufacturers. The fellowship aims to uplift women in manufacturing and continue DeRocco’s legacy.
Over the summer, Powell was a projects and solutions engineering intern with Endress+Hauser, which specializes in measurement and automation technology. She worked on both product training initiatives and data analysis. On the product side, she piloted interactive 3D product models and integrated them into employee training modules to make the materials more engaging and strengthen device understanding across the team.
On the data side, she analyzed orders from nine global production centers in 2024, identifying errors, outliers, and seasonal trends affecting forecast accuracy. Her findings informed process improvements to strengthen data quality and helped lay groundwork for automated forecasting in DOMO and SAP.
Endress + Hauser is a supporter of the fellowship, and Powell’s manager encouraged her to apply.
When Powell began her engineering education, she was initially interested in medical device manufacturing and healthcare design. Her interests later shifted to tech-startup manufacturing. She says the combination of mechanical engineering and sociology is valuable preparation for roles in the healthcare industry.
“I still am passionate about working in medical device manufacturing, particularly in product development and quality,” Powell says. “The fellowship gave me the chance to speak to entrepreneurs in tech, and it really opened my eyes to the possibility of working in startups.”
Previously, she assumed a career in medical devices would lead to a large corporation, but she is now intrigued by the possibility of working for a startup, potentially in healthcare or another industry.
“Manufacturing is an interesting industry because you can see how products move from start to finish and how they impact actual people—not just one phase of the development process,” Powell says. “It’s so valuable to take a product from an idea to production and beyond, and being able to wear many hats throughout the process is so exciting.”
Being both an intern and DeRocco fellow provided significant support, she says, both financially and through mentorship.
Powell was paired with Elizabeth Ayton, a mechanical engineer with five years of industry experience. Ayton is developing a novel actuator for robotic hand applications at Kyber Labs and has worked in startups spanning product design, biotech, brain-computer interface, and robotics.
During their bi-weekly meetings, Ayton offered career advice, helped Powell create a design portfolio, and shared insights on interviewing and salary negotiation.
“Having someone, specifically a woman, who has gone through manufacturing and engineering in her career was super helpful,” Powell says. “Getting her advice and mentorship made me more confident in the workplace and gave incredible tangible guidance from her experiences and success."
The fellowship also included professional development workshops on negotiation skills and overcoming imposter syndrome.
Fellows traveled to Detroit to visit LIFT, an accelerator for emerging tech-manufacturing companies. Powell toured labs, met startup leaders, and attended the Manufacturing Momentum Summit, where fellows participated in conference sessions and joined a panel discussion on students entering manufacturing and bridging knowledge gaps among students and employers.
The fellowship, she says, allowed her to build a network of peers with similar interests.
“Being a woman in a male-dominated field comes with challenges in terms of people taking you seriously,” Powell says, “and internal struggles, like imposter syndrome or feeling like you don’t belong.”
The fellowship helped her envision her future in mechanical engineering and manufacturing through a woman-centered lens.
“Receiving tools to overcome these feelings and stand up for yourself in negotiations was impactful,” Powell says. “The mentorship and hearing about others’ experiences was incredibly helpful.”
—Andrea Palladino '26 is a student writer for the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
