There have been inspiring people at every stage of my career: supportive chemistry and math teachers; the professor who hired me into his research lab; the teacher who welcomed chemical engineers into his semiconductor courses; mentors who taught me professional communication, advanced principles of lithography, that leadership has many forms; and an industry leader who taught me the power of connections and empowering others.

I lead Eulitha’s United States office and drive strategic technology development for our lithography platforms. Additionally, I provide specialized application support and manage our global technical partnerships. Overall, my work focuses on advancing lithography solutions for augmentedreality waveguides. Publishing and presenting at conferences on our major developments has been rewarding. Opening the United States office for Eulitha was a major achievement.

Another career highlight was representing the photonics industry to government representatives at the 2023 SPIE Industry Summit. I gained critical perspective on how government, academia, and industry can support each other and are working together to ensure American semiconductor competitiveness. Additionally, this year I was able to cohost the Women in Optics luncheon for SPIE AR|VR|MR and bring in a panel of incredible women leaders to speak about the power of mentoring.

I love talking to young women about careers in science and engineering. My message to them is to find segments of science that spark genuine interest. Explore the diverse and exciting fields open to them. And when doubt comes, remember: You are smart enough. You are strong enough. You can do hard things. Failure isn’t permanent, and mistakes can be powerful lessons.

I’d like to leave a legacy of lithographic innovation through publications, patents, technical talks, and by building connections at industry conferences. Just as impactful as technical contributions, I strive to help others along their career paths, as so many have helped me. Some of my favorite experiences have been speaking to high school and university students about careers in science and engineering, being an inclusive recruiter and interviewer, speaking at career panels, and hosting women’s activities.

I hope to leave the world a little brighter; I believe the greatest legacy you can leave is the light we ignite in each other.

Kelsey Wooley
Director of North American Operations, Eulitha
Born in United States / Resides in United States
Educational Background: BS in Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, United States