The Dr. Martha Bidez Endowed Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Dr. Martha Bidez, the first Graduate Program Director of the Master of Engineering in Advanced Safety Engineering and Management. Criteria for the scholarship include enrollment in ASEM, completion of at 6-credit hours in the program, at least a 3.0 GPA, and having shown leadership in the occupational safety and health profession. Ms. Layla Lahoud is the 2022-2023 recipient of this scholarship.

Ms. Lahoud is a Quality Engineer with Howmet Aerospace in Cleveland, Ohio, and will be earning her Master of Engineering degree at the end of this April. Following her acceptance into Advanced Safety Engineering and Management at UAB, Layla became the interim chief safety officer at one of the largest health departments in Ohio. She oversaw the design and implementation of a county-wide Covid-19 response, “including distributing and fit tests for N-95 masks to over 200 employees and was one of the leads in the Covid-19 vaccination clinics where they accommodated over 1,000 patients daily in extreme weather changes from hot summer days to brutal winter nights.” Upon implementation of this program, Layla secured the position of Chief Safety Officer. She is now a Quality Engineer with Howmet Aerospace which produces engineered metal products for the aerospace, defense and commercial transportation industries.

Layla also participates in a STEM Golf Supplemental Curriculum at local country clubs throughout Cleveland. She created a 9-month, mentorship program where students can network and learn about careers in law, medicine and engineering. “Growing into a chief safety officer position at work is rewarding. It validated the hard work I put into nurturing my career. However, the most rewarding is helping other females find their strengths in STEM. If I shatter my ceiling, I can help others too. As a first generation student, I would sincerely be honored to receive this scholarship to continue to support my academic endeavors. I plan to become a CSP and CSEP to work as a model-based systems engineer, and continue my education and earn my Ph.D. in Systems Engineering.”