The 2002 Linda K. Amos Award for Distinguished Service to Women will be presented to JoAnn S. Lighty, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering, later this week.

Gerald Stringfellow, dean of the College of Engineering, thinks Lighty is deserving of the honor.

“There are two ways I look at JoAnn’s performance,” Stringfellow said. “She’s an extraordinary engineer and teacher, and the idea of outreach is close to her heart.”

Last year, Lighty established “Building a Better Future Through Engineering” with the Girl Scouts of America, a program that places female engineering students with Girl Scout seniors and cadets.

Earlier this year, Lighty started two new programs in the College of Engineering focusing on under-represented female freshmen students and introducing high school girls to engineering. In the College of Engineering, male students outnumber women about six to one.

“She is doing a magnificent job in recruiting women and minorities to our department,” Stringfellow said.

Lighty is scheduled to receive the Amos Award Friday night at Kingsbury Hall. The award is named for Linda K. Amos, the associate vice president for health sciences and former professor and dean in the College of Nursing.

Amos, founding chairwoman of the President’s Commission of the Status of Women, has been a long-time advocate in improving the status and experience of women on campus.

Lighty also received the 2001 Engineering Educator of the Year Award from the Utah Engineers Council and served as the first female adviser to the Society of Women Engineers.