Coming from a diverse background and raised in a home rooted in sacrifice and perseverance, Dianne Chong never imagined she would one day be inducted into the Women in Engineering Hall of Fame. As a first-generation college student, Dianne’s educational journey was anything but typical. Her path to engineering was even more unconventional.

Originally planning to pursue a career in medicine, Dianne didn’t set foot in an engineering classroom until graduate school. It’s hard to say whether the medical field lost out or the engineering world simply got lucky, but if you ask Dianne, she’d tell you she was the fortunate one, and the profession found her.

Dianne’s foundation was built on the enduring values of her Chinese heritage. Her mother emigrated from Canton and, after the untimely passing of Dianne’s father when she was just 13, raised five children on her own. Though just one person in Dianne’s extended family (on her father’s side) obtained a college education, and her parents never had the chance to pursue secondary education themselves, they instilled in their children an unshakable belief in its importance. That belief propelled Dianne to become the first in her family to earn a college degree—a milestone that paved the way for her trailblazing career.

When her mother passed away, Dianne felt compelled to honor her parents’ lasting impact by giving back in a meaningful way. She and her husband, David Squiers, decided to establish a first-of-its-kind endowed fund, the Dale and Helen Chong Endowed Fund for NAE Programs, which supports the various programs in the NAE Program Office. “I truly believe in the power of education. What NAE is doing in the programs area covers multiple aspects to help us learn and implement how to improve accessibility and quality of education for all,” Dianne remarked.

Dianne had been actively supporting the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) long before becoming a member, both through volunteerism and philanthropy. To her, giving back to the NAE is not just appropriate; it’s essential. She feels strongly that engineering is critically important for the future and success of the nation and that the NAE can be instrumental in leading the way.

From someone destined to transform ideas into products to becoming an inspiring leader for many, Dianne Chong hopes her story will inspire others to support the fields of science and engineering.