About the Fellowship

Honoring a Legacy.
Building the Future.

The DeRocco Fellowship turns Emily Stover DeRocco’s belief — that the right opportunity, at the right moment, changes everything — into action for women in advanced manufacturing.

Meet the Team Our Mission

Our Mission

“To empower emerging women leaders in advanced manufacturing through mentorship, leadership development, and access to career-building opportunities — continuing Emily’s belief that the right opportunity, at the right moment, changes everything.”

  • Applications for the 2027 DeRocco Fellowship are now open.

    Apply Now

  • Know a future leader in manufacturing? Encourage her to apply.

Fellows

Meet the
DeRocco Fellows

Each summer, a small cohort of women preparing for leadership careers in advanced manufacturing joins the Fellowship. Meet the Fellows from every cohort.

2026 Cohort

11 Fellows
  • Leslie Apanecatl-Cortes

    Leslie Apanecatl-Cortes

    Tufts University · Mechanical Engineering

  • Ava Dioli

    Ava Dioli

    Purdue University · Manufacturing Engineering Technology

  • Danielle Garrecht

    Danielle Garrecht

    University of South Florida · Mechanical Engineering

  • Vaidehi Goyal

    Vaidehi Goyal

    Purdue University · Chemical Engineering

  • Camila Iberico-Pinellas

    Camila Iberico-Pinellas

    University of South Florida · Mechanical Engineering

  • Bessie Jackson

    Bessie Jackson

    Columbus State Community College · Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology

  • Grace Kim

    Grace Kim

    Case Western Reserve University · Biomedical Engineering

  • Jenna Money

    Jenna Money

    University of Kentucky · Mechanical Engineering

  • Sophie Morehead

    Sophie Morehead

    Purdue University · Mechanical Engineering

  • Aniya Myers

    Aniya Myers

    Temple University · Mechanical Engineering

  • Audrey Pulley

    Audrey Pulley

    Purdue University · Industrial Engineering

2025 Cohort

8 Fellows
  • Laila Abbas

    Laila Abbas

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Neve Apte

    Neve Apte

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Julia Flynn

    Julia Flynn

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Brinley Jordan

    Brinley Jordan

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Mahnoor Khan

    Mahnoor Khan

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Genevieve Powell

    Genevieve Powell

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Sadie Roecker

    Sadie Roecker

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Cora White

    Cora White

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

Apply for the 2027 Cohort
Mentors

Meet the Mentors

Every Fellow is matched one-on-one with an accomplished leader in manufacturing.
Our mentors volunteer their time, experience, and networks to help Fellows take the next step.

  • Lizzie Ayton

    Lizzie Ayton

    Mechanical Engineer, Medra

  • Dezeree Centers

    Dezeree Centers

    Vice President, Bucher Hydraulics

  • Parminder Jassal

    Parminder Jassal

    CEO, Unmudl

  • Sarah Krasley

    Sarah Krasley

    Founder & CEO, Shimmy Technologies

  • Kalsi Kwan

    Kalsi Kwan

    Principal Investigator, Additive Electronics Technology, Boeing

  • Becky Lewis

    Becky Lewis

    Director of Workforce Development, NextFlex

  • Lisa Masciantonio

    Lisa Masciantonio

    Chief Workforce Officer, ARM Institute

  • Kimberly Perkins

    Kimberly Perkins

    Vice President, Amatrol, Inc.

  • Laura Potter

    Laura Potter

    Regional General Manager, Xylem

  • Sue Smith

    Sue Smith

    Executive Program Director, Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA)

  • Carol Stillman

    Carol Stillman

    Director, M4 Division of the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence

  • Suzy Teele

    Suzy Teele

    Chief Strategy Officer, ARM Institute

  • Jasmine Wiggins

    Jasmine Wiggins

    Launch Planning Workforce Readiness Manager, Ford Motor Company

  • Lisa Wombwell

    Co-Founder, Blackbox Energy Systems

Become a Mentor
Advisory Board

Strategic Guidance From
Industry Leaders

Established in 2026, the DeRocco Fellowship Advisory Board brings together leaders from across manufacturing, higher education, workforce development, and policy — providing strategic guidance and the industry connections that help the Fellowship grow.

  • Nate Ames

    Nate Ames

    Executive Director, Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence, The Ohio State University

  • Fazleena Badurdeen

    Fazleena Badurdeen

    Professor of Mechanical Engineering & Director of Graduate Studies, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, University of Kentucky

  • Michael Britt-Crane

    Michael Britt-Crane

    Office of Advanced Manufacturing, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

  • Julia Flynn

    Julia Flynn

    2025 DeRocco Fellow

  • Maria Flynn

    Maria Flynn

    President and CEO, Jobs for the Future

  • Ed Herderick

    Ed Herderick

    Education and Workforce Development Director, America Makes

  • Kimberly Perkins

    Kimberly Perkins

    Vice President of Manufacturing and Market Development, Amatrol

  • Bob Shaner

    Bob Shaner

    Chief Workforce Development Officer, LIFT

  • Sue Smith

    Sue Smith

    Executive Program Director, Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA)

  • Cora White

    Cora White

    2025 DeRocco Fellow — Bringing the perspective of the women this program is built to serve.

  • Jim Woodell

    Jim Woodell

    Founder, Principal, and CEO, Venn Collaborative

Partner With Us
leadership

Meet the Team

The DeRocco Fellowship was co-founded and is led and managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors made up of
Emily’s family, longtime colleagues, and close friends — each committed to turning her legacy into lasting impact.

  • Michael Gilroy

    Michael Gilroy

    Senior Vice President, CREC. Extensive experience across federal workforce policy and programs, including roles with the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Labor.

  • Lauren Beth DeRocco Gopi

    Lauren Beth DeRocco Gopi

    Board Member and daughter of Emily. Former DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis leader, U.S. Army veteran, and longtime nonprofit contributor.

  • Denise Kennedy

    Denise Kennedy

    President and CEO, Anthology Communications. Strategic communications leader with 25+ years of experience across workforce, economic development, and public sector initiatives.

    In LinkedIn
  • Jacqui Mieksztyn

    Jacqui Mieksztyn

    Principal, Jacqui Mieksztyn Consulting. Workforce strategist specializing in public-private partnerships. Former leader with Michigan Economic Development Corporation and TPMA.

    In LinkedIn
  • Eileen Pickett

    Eileen Pickett

    Principal, epconsulting. Former Acting CEO and EVP Economic Development, Greater Louisville Inc.; COO, Ohio Aerospace Institute; began career at GE.

    In LinkedIn

Want to get involved?

There are many ways to support the next generation of women leaders.

Get Involved
Sponsors & Partners

Built on Partnership

We’re proud to work alongside organizations across industry, education, and workforce development who share our commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive manufacturing future.

  • LIFT
  • Anthology Communications
  • NextFlex
  • Endress+Hauser
  • Amatrol
  • Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC
  • IACMI – The Composites Institute
Become a Partner