Lincoln Laboratory receives SASE Government Organization of the Year Award
The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) awarded Lincoln Laboratory its 2024 Government Organization of the Year Award. The award recognizes the Laboratory's significant advancements to science and engineering as well as its commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace. The award was presented to Laboratory staff at SASE's National Convention in October at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Established in 2007, SASE supports the professional development of scientific and engineering individuals of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage nationwide.
"Receiving this award from SASE signifies that our dedication to diversity and inclusion, particularly for Asian Americans, is being recognized on a national level," says Suzy Wang, who is a co-chair of Lincoln Laboratory's Pan-Asian Laboratory Staff (PALS) employee resource group. "It validates the progress we've made and encourages us to continue fostering an inclusive culture."
At the start of the conference, SASE Director of Professional Programming Paraag Maddiwar, keynote speaker and comedian Rajiv Satyal, and SASE Co-Founder and Secretary Tom Fernandez presented their yearly awards to honor individuals and organizations that have had a technical and cultural impact on their STEM communities. PALS co-chairs Wang, Allison Chang, and Rizwan Jagani and Lincoln Laboratory Director Melissa Choi accepted the award on stage following a short thank-you video. The awards were followed by workshops, information sessions, networking options, panel discussions, and career booth visiting opportunities.
"I am proud of the collective effort that led to this recognition," says Jagani. "While this award is an honor, it's also a reminder that we have more work to do. I look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to push for a more inclusive and innovative future at the Laboratory."
After the awards ceremony, staff tended a booth for attendees to learn more about the Laboratory's mission and employment opportunities. They also held a resume review session where attendees met with staff for resume feedback, career advice, or any other requested support.
Roberto Martinez, a D&I program manager in Human Resources, says the award is a testament to the hard work the Laboratory has been putting into D&I efforts within the Laboratory and into recruitment, especially at career fairs and events.
"One of our goals is to drive more engagement at these events beyond the career booth to have a greater impact on the STEM community," he says. "Last year, we began sponsoring professional talks on careers and leadership, doing resume review sessions, and piloting a new tool that allows us to track different recruiting metrics to get a better sense of how our efforts at these events are impacting applications."
Martinez says that booth traffic at career events increased 111% since last year. For the SASE conference, the number of booth visits and prospective job seekers more than doubled from last year's SASE event.
"One of the most rewarding experiences was interacting with bright, enthusiastic college students at our booth," says Wang. "Their curiosity, thoughtful questions, and eagerness to learn about our work made the recruitment process exciting and aligned with our goal of attracting talent that shares our vision."
Jagani says he joined PALS for the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the Laboratory by creating spaces where AAPI and all voices are heard and valued. "I firmly believe that diversity fuels innovation," he says. "Through mentorship, advocacy, and community building, PALS has strengthened our culture of inclusion and helped employees from all backgrounds contribute more fully to our mission. I hope to see continued progress in leadership diversity as well as structured mentorship and professional development initiatives aimed at underrepresented groups, ensuring that every employee has access to opportunities for growth and leadership."
Chang, who helped establish PALS in 2016, says she got involved to feel a sense of community and to advocate for change. Receiving the SASE award was a surprise and motivation to keep up the good work.
"I believe that making time to support D&I at the Laboratory has made me a better teammate and leader, and has made my career more meaningful," she says. "I hope to see more people at the Laboratory getting involved in employee resource groups and other D&I initiatives."
