Research dean marks progress for women in STEM fields

  • Published
  • By Sandy Simison
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  When Dr. Heidi Ries, dean of research at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), first started in her profession, it was not uncommon for her to be the only woman in the room. During the last 20 years, things have improved and women now hold a variety of leadership roles in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Ries has been fortunate throughout her career, having had supportive department heads and deans to help her progress.

"They should realize how important a few words of encouragement can be," she said.

Ries was encouraged by her high school teachers. In her high school chemistry and physics classes, the girls outnumbered the boys three to one, which she found out later was not typical. She was interested in mathematics, but her chemistry teacher urged her to pursue science as her lab reports were much better than the other students' and used them as an example to the other students on how things should be done. She graduated from high school as a national merit scholar and Ohio academic scholar.

Ries majored in physics at The Ohio State University and graduated summa cum laude. While pursuing her master's degree at the university, Ries was acknowledged for her potential by her professor, Dr. Robert Boyd, who mentored her in nuclear physics. Ries was hired at Norfolk State University while still completing her doctoral degree in physics. While there, she worked to improve the science department by building a research program with NASA Langley to establish a coherent research plan. She started research programs so students could quit part-time jobs to work on projects directly relevant to their studies

Ries enjoys helping people come together to figure out how talents can work together. She has been instrumental in establishing centers of excellence not only at Norfolk State University but also at the Air Force Institute of Technology. She recognized faculty members working on individual research projects would benefit more if the research were collaborated by faculty working together based on their areas of expertise.

As dean for research at AFIT, her responsibilities include pre-award, post-award, technology transfer and compliance functions of AFIT's sponsor-funded research and educational programs. She also serves as AFIT's primary liaison to Air Force Research Laboratory and represents AFIT's research interests to sponsors, including Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Department of Energy, National Reconnaissance Office and National Science Foundation.

She and her husband have two children. To balance her professional and family life, Ries reflects that one should decide what's good enough in both areas.

"Be thoughtful about what it is you want and try to think about what is really feasible. People need to review those perceptions and prioritize every year or so," she said.