Outstanding Collegiate Member
Taylor Daniels, E.I.T.
University of Pittsburgh
For being a positive role model in and out of the classroom; for deep commitment to SWE and other campus organizations; and for being a selfless volunteer and leader.
Taylor Daniels graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) with a B.S. in chemical engineering and minors in economics and chemistry in December 2020. She was inducted into the Omega Chi Epsilon chemical engineering honor society and the academic Greek honor society Gamma Sigma Alpha for her academic achievements. She also passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and is a certified Engineer-in-Training in Maryland and Texas.
At Pitt, Daniels immersed herself in campus life by getting involved in organizations that focused on women, engineering, and service. She joined the Society of Women Engineers in 2016 as a first-year student and participated in various activities and leadership roles. She was co-chair of Pitt SWE’s Etiquette Dinner, an event inviting industry representatives to meet students in a business setting and discuss business etiquette and networking skills. The following two years, Daniels served as meeting coordinator, working with other SWE members to plan and organize all section events. She was elected FY20 treasurer the following year and improved section financial health by increasing income by 41% and decreasing expenses by 45% from the previous fiscal year.
At the Society level, Daniels joined SWE’s leadership coaching committee (LCC) in FY21, serving as a leadership coach for eight collegiate sections. She was recognized as the FY21 LCC New Collegiate Coach of the Year. She participated in SWE’s advanced track Leadership Development Program (LDP) and Collegiate Leadership Institute. In FY22, Daniels is the coordinator-elect of the advanced track LDP, an award coordinator for the awards and recognition committee, and serving on the bylaws committee. For her dedication to SWE, her academic pursuits, and the community, she received the 2021 WE Local Guiding Star Award.
In addition to SWE, Daniels joined Pitt’s student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and served as vice president of internal affairs. To support Pitt’s chemical engineering department, she designed and distributed newly branded apparel and managed over $10,000 in sales. In recognition of her work in the chapter, Daniels received AIChE’s prestigious Donald F. and Mildred Topp Othmer Scholarship.
She was a founding member and first president of Sigma Delta Tau sorority, representing the face of the organization and helping to establish a presence on campus. She was also an Engineering Ambassador, providing information and campus tours for prospective engineering students, serving on panels, and representing the engineering school at admissions events. For these and other diverse leadership responsibilities, Daniels was inducted into the national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa and Order of Omega Greek honor society.
Daniels participated in a yearlong co-op experience with Johnson & Johnson in Lititz, Pennsylvania, serving as a process and project engineer in the oral care manufacturing department. She led cost savings initiatives, capital projects for process improvements, and investigations to resolve safety/risk events. The experience solidified her desire to pursue a career in process engineering. Daniels also interned at Williams in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Upon graduation, she joined Williams full time in its rotational Engineering Development Program.
A native of Hyattsville, Maryland, Daniels was adopted from Russia and raised by a single mom. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her rescue cats, Hamilton and Tara; working out; and solving crossword puzzles.