Advocating for Real Change: Why Equity and Inclusion Need to be Everyone’s Concern
By 2030, analysts estimate that one million additional skilled workers will be needed to meet the semiconductor industry demand. At a time when companies are scrambling to attract and retain talent, an inclusive workplace is even more critical to building a strong and sustainable workforce. Gender inequality and inclusion can no longer be seen as a ‘women's issue’. Everyone has a role to play and a responsibility to make a positive change. This year's WiS panel discussion, moderated by SEMI Foundation executive Director, Shari Liss, will explore how everyone can advocate for the change needed to create an inclusive and equitable workplace.
Panelists:
Stephanie Bojarski, PhD., Quantum Integration and Mask Design Manager, Intel
Stephanie Bojarski is currently the manager of the Quantum Integration and Mask Design group within Intel’s Components Research Organization, she has been in the semiconductor industry for 9.5 years. Before management, Stephanie was a process integration engineer working on projects including quantum computing devices, 3D integration, scaled transistors, novel interconnects, and advanced patterning. Stephanie received her Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2014 where she studied the “The Effects of Grain Boundary Character and Energy on Complexion Transitions in Ceramics” under Greg Rohrer. She received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Lehigh University. Besides technical contributions, Stephanie is passionate about strategically establishing a diverse pipeline for STEM fields through outreach and representation. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys all the adventures that come with living in the Pacific Northwest with her 3-year-old son, husband, and way too energetic husky.
Christopher Fontana, Vacuum and Pressure BU Manager, Brooks Instrument (a Division of ITW)
Chris Fontana has contributed 15 years to the Semiconductor Industry through advancements in instrumentation and delivery/storage of specialty gases and chemicals. Starting his career with Brooks Instrument, Chris served in operations, engineering, and marketing roles, with a focus on semiconductor instrumentation in their Management Development Program (MDP). Transitioning to a principal product engineering role for EMD Electronics (previously Versum Materials and Air Products), he was responsible for the chemical delivery equipment with increasing responsibility in management over his seven-year tenure. Returning to Brooks as the Semiconductor Engineering Director of Customer-Back Innovation, he led the release of Brooks’ new flagship pressure-based GP200 mass flow controller (MFC). In his current position at Brooks, Chris has P&L responsibility for global manufacturing, engineering, quality, field services, and sales for their Vacuum and Pressure product lines. Chris holds a B.S in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida. He is very active in his community and has served on the Advisory Board for St. Luke’s University Health Network NICU and as a coach for a girls youth travel soccer team.
Shravanthi Manikonda, PhD., Member of Technical Staff, GlobalFoundries
Shravanthi Manikonda is currently a Member of Technical Staff at GlobalFoundries and has been in the semiconductor industry for over 20 years. She has worked in a variety of roles across the semiconductor industry, including process engineering, metrology, process integration, packaging & is currently in Tapeout Management. She started her semiconductor industry career at IBM, as a Co-op, while working towards her graduate degree. Upon graduation, she joined Texas Instruments where she worked as a packaging engineer before moving to GlobalFoundries. Shravanthi has published and given talks in various conferences, including winning a best paper award for her work at ECS (The Electrochemical Society). She holds a PhD. in Nanoscale Science & Engineering from CNSE, SUNY Albany and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson University. Shravanthi also holds a green belt in lean and six sigma methods. She has been actively involved in mentoring high school & college students in the field of science & engineering, since her graduate school days. She is also passionate about speaking about the need to create equitable policies, so that gender diversity in STEM fields can be maintained. In her spare time, Shravanthi is passionate about photography and maintains a photography page with over 2000 followers.
Sarah McDonald, Application Engineer, Entegris
Sarah McDonald is an applications engineer at Entegris where she works on liquid filtration products for wet etch and clean processes at the company's Billerica, Massachusetts headquarters. She has worked at Entegris for five years, her first job since graduating from Cornell University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Sarah previously participated in the Entegris Engineering Leadership Development Program (ELDP), where she rotated through roles in manufacturing, quality, and new product development over the course of three years. In her free time, Sarah enjoys cooking, crafting, and exploring the Boston area.
Moderator:
Shari Liss, Executive Director, SEMI Foundation
Shari Liss, a seasoned professional with over 25 years in workforce development and tech education, is currently the driving force as the Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation. In this role, she focuses on leading impactful workforce development programs and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for the microelectronics industry that span over 3000 global companies.Under Shari's dynamic leadership, SEMI Foundation has successfully launched numerous national and global workforce development initiatives. She has secured significant funding to drive programs that enhance industry image, attract more women and people of color to the sector, and facilitate career transitions for veterans and military personnel into microelectronics. Shari's recent highlight includes her testimony before Congress at the House Research and Technology Subcommittee hearing titled “Strengthening the U.S. Microelectronics Workforce.” In this pivotal moment, she passionately advocated for increased industry visibility, substantial investments in K-12 STEM education, and a stronger focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry. With a profound commitment to shaping the future of tech education, Shari's current role at SEMI Foundation exemplifies her dedication to addressing critical workforce needs and fostering cross-sector partnerships that bridge industry, academia, community-based organizations, and the workforce.