Chrysanthe Preza - 2017 SPIE Women in Optics Planner
Associate Professor
The University of Memphis, USA
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Country of Birth: Cyprus |
My father was an engineer and an educator. From the time I was very young he encouraged me to solve problems and believe in myself. When I was in high school I was fascinated by computers and I wanted to learn everything about them.
I teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in electrical and computer engineering and I lead the research in the Computational Imaging Research Laboratory, where graduate and undergraduate students work on interdisciplinary projects that span engineering, physics, mathematics, computer science, and biology.
Striking a good balance between teaching, research, and service in academia is definitely a challenge that requires discipline. A bigger challenge for me has been balancing my career with being a mother of three boys (including twins). Having a flexible schedule, being able to work from home and sharing family responsibilities with my husband has made it possible for me to achieve, on average, an acceptable balance.
If you are pursuing a career in STEM, find a mentor whose advice you can trust. Accept help from others when you need it. Be proud for your accomplishments. Network with other women in science and engineering.