Executive Council

Dr. Tracy Nguyen is an optometrist, dedicated mentor, and passionate advocate for women in engineering. Inspired by her experiences, she is committed to empowering women and creating opportunities in engineering and technology. As SWE-SD Vice President (FY24 & FY25) and Outreach Chair (FY22 & FY23), Dr. Nguyen expanded outreach efforts from once a quarter to over 100 outreach events annually. She led impactful initiatives such as Meet Up with Engineers, Women in STEM Forum, SWE STEM Leader & Innovator Series, and Girls in STEM Inspiration Day, fostering mentorship and increasing engagement. She also championed the creation of SWE Affiliates at local community colleges and strengthened SWE-SD’s partnerships with organizations like SHPE and Latinas in Tech, promoting diversity and cross- organizational collaboration. These initiatives earned SWE-SD the SWE Mission Recognition for WE23 and WE24, showcasing her impact for SWE’s mission and long-term impact. Her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging was recognized with the WE23 SWE Spark Award and WE24 DEI & Individual Recognition.

As SWE-SD President, Dr. Nguyen is committed to fostering an inclusive and thriving professional network. She plans to expand professional development opportunities through monthly skill-building workshops and mentorship programs, focusing on leadership, technical expertise, career strategies, and networking. She will leverage her industry relationships to connect members with professionals, creating pathways for internships and career growth. Ultimately, Dr. Nguyen envisions a more connected SWE-SD, where members support, share, and celebrate each other while building a welcoming, empowering community where women in STEM feel inspired and supported.

I am deeply honored and excited to accept the position of Vice President of SWE San Diego for FY26. With over 15 years of academic and research experience across two countries, I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, educational leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in STEM.

As a chemical engineer specializing in membrane and separation technology, I have contributed to cutting-edge research in nanomaterials, separation processes, and clean energy, with more than 15 peer-reviewed publications in top scientific journals. My teaching journey has taken me from international institutions to Arizona State University and multiple community colleges in San Diego, where I champion equity, inclusion, and student-centered pedagogy in engineering. In my role as Co-Chair of the SWE-SD Professional Development Committee and Co-Advisor to the SWE Club at Cuyamaca College, I have been privileged to collaborate on organizing impactful events, such as the WE24 Recap After-Party, Navigating Challenging Career Conversations, can you see me? Make your presence known and the Engineer Your Future Workshop. These experiences have strengthened my dedication to building a vibrant, supportive community for women engineers. I am also proud to be contributing to the establishment of the SWE affiliate at Cuyamaca College, empowering a new generation of women in engineering through mentorship, hands-on workshops, and field trips.

As Vice President, I am committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and inspiring environment within SWE-SD, where every member feels empowered to reach their full potential. I look forward to expanding professional development opportunities that connect academia and industry, collaboration in leading technical workshops that bridge the gap between knowledge and application, and nurturing mentorship relationships that build confidence and career success.

I am especially passionate about ensuring that all voices are heard that every member feels valued, and that we continue to build a supportive network that uplifts each other through every step of our professional journeys. I am also excited to support Dr. Tracy Nguyen in her role as President of SWE San Diego, working alongside her to implement initiatives that strengthen our section and further our shared mission of empowering women in STEM. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive SWE San Diego that reflects our collective passion, dedication, and resilience.

Importantly, I am enthusiastic about continuing to engage with SWE Next, inspiring and encouraging the next generation of women engineers to pursue STEM majors and careers. By providing mentorship, hands-on workshops, and exposure to real-world engineering, I hope to help ignite a lifelong passion for STEM in our youngest members and ensure they have the resources and confidence to achieve their dreams. Thank you for your trust and support. I look forward to making FY26 a remarkable year of growth, impact, and empowerment.

Cassidy Thornbury is a water resource engineer with a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering and a M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from SDSU. She works at Carollo Engineers, a consulting firm that specializes in the planning, design, and construction of water and wastewater facilities. She started at Carollo as an intern while attending SDSU and has since been with the company for 8 years. She grew up with an interest in engineering but also has a passion for water and the environment, making her a perfect fit at Carollo!

During her time at SDSU, she was involved in the SWE collegiate section along with other engineering organizations including Chi Epsilon, AWWA, ASCE and Engineers Without Borders, where she took on several officer positions to build leadership skills. Her favorite events were always the ones involving outreach and socializing as she got to interact and connect with peers as well as the community. Being able to share her love for engineering and inspiring others to pursue their dreams has always been an important part of her life.

Since college, she has been actively involved in SWE San Diego and has served as the FY21 Community Outreach Chair and K-12 Outreach Co-Chair, the FY24 Recording Secretary, and the FY25 Treasurer. She also serves as the office ambassador for Carollo Cares, a community outreach program at her work, and has led fundraising events for Water for People to help provide clean, safe drinking water for people in other parts of the world. Along with her passion for water engineering, Cassidy has great attention to detail, organizational skills, and maintains transparency; all important traits of treasury. Having served two years in the Executive Council and most recently as Treasurer, she has experience with the operations and requirements in keeping the section in good financial standing. She is excited to continue as the FY26 Treasurer and looking forward to another great year with the SWE San Diego community!

Emerald Trejo brings over six years of industry experience, holding dual master’s degrees in computer science and engineering management. Her dedication to the engineering community has earned her recognition, including the 2023 SWE Volunteer of the Year Award. As the current Outreach Co-Chair for SWE San Diego, Emerald has played a pivotal role in organizing impactful initiatives and volunteer events that foster engagement and mentorship. He leadership extends beyond SWE, as she actively contributes to Lockheed Martin’s engineering leadership program and serves as a lead for a business resource group within the company and the local STEM council. Her experience in these roles has strengthened her ability to collaborate, organize, and lead with purpose.

Emerald’s commitment to inclusivity and effective communication makes her well-suited for the role of Recording Secretary. She understands the importance of capturing key discussions, ensuring transparency, and facilitating well-informed decision-making. With her meticulous attention to detail and ability to synthesize complex information, she will work to make sure that all voices are heard and that critical questions are addressed. Leveraging her leadership experience and passion for SWE’s mission, Emerald aims to enhance communication and documentation processes, ensuring that SWE San Diego’s initiatives are well-recorded and accessible. Through her dedication and strategic mindset, she will help strengthen the section’s operations and support its continued success. Emerald Trejo is excited for the opportunity to serve and continue contributing to the growth of SWE San Diego.

Jaymee Panian is an Aerospace Systems Engineer with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from San Diego State University. 

Jaymee was always interested in spacecraft and space exploration, which is why she chose aerospace engineering. In college, Jaymee interned at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory working on the Perseverance Rover and Descent System and a deep space conceptual mission trade study. During her time at SDSU, she also joined the SDSU Rocket Project where she was introduced to and worked on liquid rockets. During this time, she was the first organization’s Propulsion Manager leading the teams that designed some of SDSU Rocket Projects first student designed liquid rocket engines.

After college, Jaymee worked at Blue Origin for over five years where she worked as a Propulsion Engineer on the BE-3PM and BE-7 rocket engines before becoming a Systems Engineer working on New Glenn Upper Stage. She now works as an Aerospace Systems Engineer at X-Bow Systems working on solid rocket motor development. 

During her time at Blue Origin and while at SDSU, she had some amazing women role models and mentors that inspired and empowered her in her early career. These mentors had a large impact on Jaymee’s career trajectory and ability to navigate her early career. Jaymee’s experience with these mentors and her early experiences in engineering have led her to want to find ways to inspire other young women to follow their passions and pursue careers in engineering. 

As a Section Corresponding Secretary for SWE San Diego for FY26, Jaymee hopes to help young women or early career engineers understand their career options and empower them to pursue these options. She is very excited to be involved in the SWE community and hopes to continue to expand opportunity and inclusivity in the field of engineering for women of all backgrounds.