Our next Book Club read is The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See! Please join us on Saturday, May 23 at 10 am in Legacy Hall (Plano) to discuss this poignant historical drama about female friendship and family secrets on a small Korean island. A beautiful story that will give us lots to talk about!
Your voice matters! Please cast your vote for our Dallas SWE FY27 Leadership Team. You must be a paid member of the Dallas SWE Professional Section and in good standing with the Society to vote. The Nominating Committee will verify each voter’s member status.
Voting starts May 4 and closes on May 25.
No nominations were received during the petition period. Click here to see the candidate bios for the FY27 Dallas SWE offices of:
Thank you!
Dallas SWE FY26 Nominating Committee
Amanda Alsbrook, Katia Gomez, Claire Jordan, and Malia Kawamura
Our honorary member of the month for May is astronaut Christina Koch!
Christina Koch was officially selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. She is most recently recognized as the mission specialist for the Artemis II mission earlier this year. Her first assignment was a long duration ISS mission, during which she set the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman, racking up 328 days in space during that mission. Koch has been on 6 spacewalks, three of which being the first all-female spacewalks.
Her career began at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as an electrical engineer, then became a research associate in the United States Antarctic Program which included a yearlong stay with a winter-over at the Admunsen-Scott South Pole Station and season at Palmer Station. She continued to complete significant work at various remote scientific bases.
After her first spaceflight, Koch served as Branch Chief of the Assigned Crew Branch in the Astronaut Office. She then went on a rotation as Assistant for Technical Integration for the Center Director at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
Koch holds a B.S. in electrical engineering and physics as well as a M.S. in electrical engineering. She also studied abroad at the University of Ghana. She is the recipient of an honorary PhD from North Carolina State University.
If you would like to learn more about Christina, please see her biography on NASA’s official website.
The Dallas SWE FY26 Nominating Committee is pleased to present the following slate of candidates for your consideration to serve during FY27 (July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027). Ballots will be distributed to members electronically on May 4th and voting will conclude 21 days thereafter.
Per the Dallas SWE Section Agreement with the Society, additional candidates may be nominated by petition, provided that:
Dallas SWE paid membership as of March 3, 2026 is 394, so the petition endorsement minimum is 7 members. Please send any nominations by petition with the required endorsements and consent of the candidate to the FY26 Nominating Committee Chair, Amanda Alsbrook, at aalsbrook55@gmail.com by April 30th.
Thank you!
Dallas SWE FY26 Nominating Committee
Amanda Alsbrook, Katia Gomez, Claire Jordan, and Malia Kawamura
Come hang out with Dallas SWE for a fun, laid-back afternoon of painting and socializing at Painting with a Twist in Plano! No art experience needed — just show up ready to relax, get creative, and spend time with fellow SWE members.
🗓 Date: May 30
🕓 Time: 4-6PM
📍 Location: Painting with a Twist
1713 Preston Rd B, Plano, TX 75093
You’ll enjoy an instructor-led painting class with all supplies included, and by the end of the event you’ll head home with your own 12×16 painted canvas.
Tickets are limited so get yours fast before registration closes on 5/22!
$30— Dallas SWE Members
$40 — Non-Members
Dallas SWE will provide snacks – you are welcome to BYOB (beer/wine) and any sweets!
