MALVERN, Pa. — Patricia Woody Reeves, a thought leader, innovator, and community advocate, will deliver the commencement address at Penn State Great Valley on Friday, May 4. Currently the interim president of LCR Embedded Systems, Inc., Reeves also founded PWR Consulting Group, LLC, a woman-owned small business.
Her career encompasses over 34 years of professional leadership and technical management. She was the first woman to serve as the Machinery Research and Engineering Distinguished Senior Scientific Technical Manager at the NAVSEA Warfare Center. For over 8 years, Reeves steered the largest of the technical departments in the Naval Surface Warfare Center and the only Machinery System Command in the Navy, leading nearly 1,400 engineers and scientists.
Reeves established key partnerships at The Navy Yard. There, she led efforts with Keystone Innovation Zone for electric power and energy technology initiatives with Penn State. She also created a partnership between Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Delaware Valley Industrial Research Corporation, and Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation to further research and education efforts, enabling cooperative research and STEM initiatives throughout the area.
She is involved in many civic associations, including Penn State’s Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion. An avid champion of diversity, she established PA MESA with the U.S. Navy CNO and Temple University, created the Urban Youth Racing School partnership, and adopted George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science, enabling STEM initiatives throughout the region.
Reeves earned her bachelor of science in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master of science in engineering management from Drexel University. She has received numerous naval, community, and academic awards, including the Philadelphia Business Journal Women of Distinction Award, IEEE Philadelphia Section Corporate Technology Innovation Award, Drexel University College of Engineering Alumni Circle of Distinction Award, and Department of the Navy Meritorious Civil Service Award.
In addition to Reeves’ remarks, Penn State Great Valley’s 28th commencement ceremony will include an address from Levi Keene, a graduating student from the master of engineering management program. Other festivities include a reception for graduates and families, an induction ceremony for the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society for management students, and a first-ever honor-cord ceremony for veteran, reserve and active duty military students.
A total of 463 students will be awarded master’s degrees in business administration, engineering, data analytics, finance, information science, and leadership development.
More information can be found at greatvalley.psu.edu/commencement.