JJC Professor Instrumental in Support of Automation Program Exploration

The Joliet Junior College Process Control and Instrumentation Technology (PCIT) department gladly hosted Rep. Dagmara Avelar and young women’s mentoring group, Polished Pebbles, for a one-of-a-kind automation learning experience on Friday, March 31. 

The event supported the Polished Pebbles Pink Hard Hat Project, which addresses the workforce readiness of girls and women of color in the trades, manufacturing and construction industries.

"Joliet Junior College has always been an incredible asset to our community and getting to see the PCIT department introduce girls and young women to the automation field reaffirmed this truth," said state Rep. Dagmara Avelar, D-Bolingbrook. "As an advocate for young people of color, I was thrilled to attend this event and encourage more of these bright young women to pursue the trades. Technical and trade-based careers like these are essential to many people's economic mobility and I'll continue fighting for investment in career and technical education in Springfield."

Twenty-eight middle school girls from James E. McDade Classical School in Chicago attended a full-day automation lab set up exclusively for them by JJC PCIT department professor Joe Limon, student volunteers and fellow JJC technical department professors Alisha Brennon and Mary Sue Gurka. 

“Introducing people to the field of automation and instrumentation is a true passion of mine,” said Joe Limon, PCIT professor and future department chair. “There is so much opportunity and demand for skilled workers in this field. We are always looking for ways to introduce young people, especially young women, to the field and show them that the education, the career and the livelihood are all attainable.”

The students experienced hands-on labs in three different areas of automation: pneumatic instrumentation, electronic instrumentation and robotics. After the lab experiences, students participated in a question-and-answer session with Rep. Avelar, professors Brennon and Gurka and PCIT alumnae Evelina Rickeviciute and Amanda Grabowski. 

“The Polished Pebbles job shadow experience allows for our girls to gain exposure to the inner workings of leading industries and organizations, during which girls can take their communication skills from the Polished Pebbles classroom to the boardroom,” said Kelly Fair, Founder & CEO of Polished Pebbles. “We are passionate about preparing girls for lucrative career opportunities in STEM, manufacturing, and construction through our Pink Hard Hat Project in partnership with institutions like JJC that are equally passionate about investing in girls’ future careers in these industries.”

Polished Pebbles helps Black and Latina girls aged 7-17 become effective communicators at home, school and in their future careers. 

Limon is deeply supportive of exposing students from all backgrounds to process control and instrumentation and other automation and technical programs for the mutual benefit of the industry and the student. 

 “Building a pipeline of interest and future talent for automation is critically important to ensuring long-lasting innovation and success for the industry,” says Limon. “The passion that JJC and Polished Pebbles have for fostering the future leaders of automation and setting them up for success is what makes this partnership so special for students and the industry alike.”

For media inquiries, please contact Communications and Media Manager, Katherine Smith at katherine.smith@jjc.edu or 815-280-2844.