Beth Westlake Blanco, P.E. discovered her passion for learning early in life. She graduated with her bachelor’s in Industrial Engineering in 2007, and then stayed to earn a 2009 masters of science in Industrial Engineering, a 2010 masters of science in Urban and Regional Planning, and a 2016 masters of science in Civil Engineering all from The University of Iowa. Beth met her phenomenally supportive husband, David, while the two were undergraduate engineering students at Iowa. Beth and David share two precocious sons, Thomas (7) and James (5). She regularly volunteers with Cub Scouts, PTO, Iowa Industrial and Systems Engineering Advisory Board, among others. In her free time, Beth likes to travel, stitch on English smocking, and dream about her next adventure.

Beth began as a part time PhD student in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Iowa in spring 2023. Drawing on 15 years of industry experience, Beth’s research is focused on improving the knowledge worker experience. Beth is fortunate to be supported in her research by her employer, Integrated DNA Technologies in Coralville, part of Danaher Corporation, where she works full-time as a Design Quality Engineer. After graduation, Beth plans to continue advocating for knowledge workers in industry.