Alumna Dawn M. Madak elected as Stevens Alumni Trustee

HOBOKEN, N.J. — Dawn M. Madak, an alumna of Stevens Institute of Technology’s Class of 1989 (Bachelor of Engineering with Honors, Electrical Engineering), has been elected to a two-year term as an Alumni Trustee of Stevens Institute, and will be seated through the Annual Meeting of the Stevens Board of Trustees in 2006. The election took place at the fall meeting of the Stevens Board of Trustees in October, following Madak’s nomination by the Executive Board of the Stevens Alumni Association.

Currently an independent consultant living in Maryland, Madak held a number of highly responsible positions at CIENA Corporation in Linthicum, Md., including Account Executive to Verizon, in which position she generated more than $35 million in revenues. She also started the Documentation and Training effort upon first joining CIENA in 1996.

Prior to joining CIENA, Madak worked for several years as a technical trainer at Telecommunications Techniques Corp. (now Acterna) in Germantown, Md.

“My work experience in the corporate world ended in June 2000,” said Madak. “This was a voluntary decision based on the fact that I had just completed 4 ½ years in a telecom start-up where I had accomplished all I had originally set out to do. The company was amazingly successful, and I was proud to have contributed to that success; plus, after working an average of 80 hours per week and traveling around the country, I was quite tired!”

Madak now participates in various volunteer efforts in Maryland, and also devotes time and attention to the advancement of her alma mater.

“ I have found that volunteering and community service keeps me grounded and happy,” she said. “This Board of Trustees position will allow me to continue my work of giving back to an Institute that was instrumental in my success both professionally and personally. This opportunity is truly an honor.”

One of her volunteer efforts involves the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, for which she travels to local schools to teach children about the resources and ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. Another effort is with the group Achievement Counts, on whose behalf Madak speaks with high school sophomores about shaping their futures to achieve the goals they set for themselves.

Madak has contributed to a number of Stevens fund raising efforts during the last 15 years, at times assuming the role of Class Captain, which allowed her a major role in organizing both the 10- and 15-year reunions of her graduating class. Madak has also served as a member of the Edwin A. Stevens Society for the last 15 years. The society is the primary giving organization supporting Stevens Institute of Technology.

She currently serves in the position of Class Secretary for the Class of ’89, soliciting and editing the Class Logs in the Stevens Alumni magazine, The Indicator.

“ I took on the position in the hope of resurrecting interest among our classmates in time for our 10-year reunion,” said Madak. “It worked! I have had incredibly positive feedback on all my submissions and haven’t missed a single issue since taking over the responsibility.” As a reflection of thissuccess, Madak received the 1999 Alumni Achievement Award.

While at Stevens, Madak held many leadership positions, including president of her sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon, as well as the Inter-Fraternity Council. She was the first and only woman to ever hold this latter office, which she views as a significant milestone during her attendance at Stevens.

Madak and her husband make their home in Annapolis, Md.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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