Daytona WIE Affinity Group
Chair: Kayla D. Taylor
Vice Chair: Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel The Daytona WIE Affinity group was was formed in 2022.
Secretary: Dr. Helen Hernandez
Treasurer: Bhawana Poudel Devkota
Mission & Vision: To foster community through inclusion; provide people with soft skills to help people in their careers and to inspire each other.
IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is one of the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists, and inspiring girls around the world to follow their academic interests to a career in engineering. Section Members with IEEE WIE membership are automatically placed into the WIE Affinity Group. Please consider participating in our activities. Contact Chair Kayla Taylor
Current Event 1
High School Cybersecurity Camp at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Organized by Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel, Professor at the College of Engineering, ERAU, this intensive 4-day cybersecurity camp is designed to inspire young high school students to explore degrees and careers in cybersecurity. Participants gain hands-on experience in a safe air-gapped environment, learning real-world skills like cryptography, digital forensics, steganography, and password cracking.
Time and Place: June 9 – June 12, 2025
Lehman Building, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach FL.
Current Event 2
Friday, June 13, 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Organizer: Dr. Laxima Niure Kandel, Professor, College of Engineering, ERAU
Meet up at Lehmann Building on the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus.
Friday, June 13, 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 PMKennedy Space Center Visit
As part of a summer research program, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has invited fifteen undergraduate students to explore the wonders of space and innovation during an educational trip to the Kennedy Space Center.
Highlights include visits to Heroes and Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the iconic Space Shuttle Atlantis, and live Astronaut Encounter presentations, among other inspiring exhibits.
Past Events 2025
Cyber Safety for Seniors: Protecting Yourself Online.
8 members of the Volusia County, Florida community joined us for an informative and engaging presentation on Cybersecurity Awareness. This event was designed specifically for Seniors in Volusia County!
Learn how to protect yourself online, avoid scams, create strong passwords, and safely navigate the digital world.
Past Events 2022
Women in Aerospace and Aviation “Expert Panel” — October 26, 2022
Women in Aerospace and Aviation “Expert Panel” — October 26, 2022The Daytona Section WIE, along with the Section, presented the monthly program on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, featuring an expert panel of women engineers employed in aerospace and aviation. We welcomed Katherine Ghelarducci from the Kennedy Space Center, Caeley Looney from L3Harris, and Angie Gonzalez and Mineris Figueroa from Northrop Grumman (L-R).
Led by panel moderator and Daytona Section WIE Chair Rebecca DeMarco, panelists described how they became interested in engineering and what excited them about working in aeropsace and aviation. The importance of air superiority for the defense strategy of the U.S. was put into focus, and panelists expressed that they liked to be on the cutting edge, to come up with new solutions, and to respond to learning challenges.
We had a very good turn-out at the “Job Search Guidance Panel” Event on October 7. There was a lively discussion about corporate culture, along with tips and recommendations to succeed in applying and landing an internship or full-time position in industry, and prepare students for the ERAU Career Services job fair on October 11. Thank you to Chair Shawn Wilkerson for participating as a mentor.