ULRI

Celebrating 30 Years of Impact at the 2025 WOC STEM Conference

At the 30th anniversary of the Waves of Change STEM Conference, UL enterprise leaders, honorees, and alumni joined a vibrant community of professionals to celebrate a legacy of innovation and impact — and to envision the next decade of STEM leadership.

Held in Baltimore, the conference offered more than just a platform for recognition. It was a living network of professional support, education, and celebration — a place where past and present honorees stood shoulder to shoulder, mentoring, inspiring, and amplifying the voices of those who will shape the future of science and technology.

This year’s theme — Oceans of Opportunity — was complemented by two powerful ideas that echoed throughout the event: “standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before me” and “connection will be key to success in the next decade.” These themes underscored the importance of legacy and collaboration in driving progress, and the UL enterprise was proud to reflect both through its participation.

Honoring excellence across the UL enterprise

Three outstanding colleagues and leaders from the UL enterprise were recognized for their achievements:

Bethany King Wilkes, Ph.D., post-secondary education programs manager at UL Research Institutes, received the Educational Leadership Award for her work promoting corporate education and expanding access to STEM learning.
Mariah Dixon, senior standards engineer at UL Standards & Engagement, was named a Technology Rising Star, and recognized for her forward-thinking contributions to standards development and innovation.
Angela C. Williams, senior vice president and chief information security officer at UL Solutions, earned the Career Achievement Award, celebrating her leadership and impact in cybersecurity and enterprise resilience.

These honorees were supported by a powerful cohort of past ULRI and ULSE awardees, including Gloria Pumpuni-Lenss, Ph.D., ULRI’s senior director of operations, and Christa Wright, Ph.D., ULRI’s senior research director of toxicology. Their panel discussions — “Data Science and AI: Skills for the Future” and “Managing Highly Technical Teams” — offered practical insights and strategic guidance for STEM professionals navigating today’s complex technical landscape.

Keynote: The future of STEM

The conference’s keynote address was delivered by ULRI’s Chief Operating Officer Charlotte M. Farmer, Ph.D., and 2023 Black Engineer of the Year honoree.

Her speech, “The Future of STEM: Innovation in the Next Decade,” offered a compelling vision for the future — challenging attendees to imagine what’s possible and take purposeful steps toward building it.

“The future of STEM will be written by the people in this room,” Farmer declared. “Innovation is not a moment in time. It is a continuum — a living movement that connects past discovery with future possibility.”

Farmer emphasized the importance of moving beyond necessity to embrace innovation as a proactive force — one that anticipates possibilities, balances risk with resilience, and is grounded in ethics, trust, and shared purpose. From neurotechnology and sustainable materials to AI transparency and energy equity, she painted a vivid picture of the next decade’s frontier and called on every attendee to be a catalyst for change.

Advancing our mission: Working for a safer world

The conference exemplifies the values at the heart of ULRI’s mission: working for a safer world. Safety is not just about protection — it’s about empowerment. It’s about creating environments where innovation can thrive responsibly, where all voices are heard, and where every breakthrough is built on a foundation of integrity.

By investing in education, mentoring rising stars, and celebrating career achievements, ULRI continues to support a future where safety science is transformative and accessible. As the WOC STEM Conference celebrates 30 years of advancing opportunity and excellence, ULRI is proud to stand alongside this extraordinary community — honoring its legacy, celebrating its impact, and supporting a future where everyone in STEM can lead, innovate, and inspire.