A Catalyst for Change: ULRI Education Manager Wins STEM Changemaker Award

Bethany King Wilkes from ULRI’s Office of Research Experiences & Education will receive the Waves of Change educational leadership award in October, recognizing her impactful work at ULRI and dedication to inclusive safety science education.

Bethany King Wilkes, Ph.D., postsecondary education programs manager with UL Research Institutes’ Office of Research Experiences & Education, is being honored with the Waves of Change STEM Award in Educational Leadership – Corporate Promotion of Education from Women of Color magazine.

This esteemed award is given to education program managers who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to enhancing opportunities in STEM careers through scientific and technical education programs.

When King Wilkes first joined ULRI in August 2022, she oversaw OREE’s team of former teachers who brought the award-winning education platform Xplorlabs to life.

In her current role managing the postsecondary education team at OREE, King Wilkes works to advance ULRI’s mission to build a safer, more sustainable future by guiding college students along a path of inclusionary education that leads them into a STEM career where they are welcomed and supported. She connected researchers, engineers, and safety standard experts across ULRI, UL Standards & Engagement, and academia to help guide OREE’s development of Standards Academy. This new education platform, set to launch soon, will serve as a supplemental resource for faculty to bring standards education into their college or university.

A paper from the American Society for Engineering Education has shown 58% of employers expect new engineers to have knowledge of standards at the time of hire, but according to a ULSE study, only 15% of standards professionals say they were exposed to safety standards while still in college. Standards Academy, through the hard work of King Wilkes and her team, aims to help close that gap and welcome a new generation of standards-educated engineers to the workforce.

Throughout her career, King Wilkes has championed outreach to career and technical colleges, as well as historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), ensuring the path to a career in STEM is inclusive and accessible. As an alumna of an HBCU herself who began her career in engineering before moving to education, King Wilkes brings a powerful perspective of what’s possible for future generations of STEM professionals through educational programs and support structures.

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