POTSDAM -- IBM Executive Jennifer P. Howland ’85 will speak at Clarkson University’s December Recognition Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16.

The University holds a special December Recognition Ceremony for graduates who are not planning to return to the May commencement. Howland, who earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical and computer engineering from Clarkson, will address students and their families at the ceremony.

Howland is the executive of IBM’s Pathways Program for experienced, diverse technical talent. It is a worldwide program to develop and implement bold actions to increase the representation of woman and under-represented monitories in IBM’s technical executive positions by attracting, recruiting, developing, and progressing experienced mid-career technical talent into these leadership roles.

Howland has been with IBM for 32 years as an engineer, manager, and executive. Her work has spanned areas such as engineering, strategy, product and services development, business and process transformation, and service delivery. She has always been passionate about helping women advance their careers.

Howland is an active leader with DiscoverE and is the campus liaison executive for Women in Technology at Clarkson. She is on Clarkson’s Honor’s Program Advisory Council and was recognized this year as one of Good Housekeeping’s "10 Women Changing the Way We See the World" as a leader in science and technology. She has two grown daughters.