Chemical engineers, student leaders, and professionals at all career stages are at the heart of AIChE's mission to advance the profession and make a lasting impact on society. In this series, we spotlight members whose passion and leadership help shape the future of chemical engineering.
This month, we're excited to introduce Jane Aghjayan, former Chair of the AIChE Executive Student Committee (ESC). A chemical engineering graduate of Notre Dame University–Louaize (NDU) in Lebanon, Jane helped expand AIChE's presence in her region, including organizing Lebanon's first AIChE National Meetup and Regional Conference. Below, Jane reflects on her experiences as an AIChE leader.
What inspired you to become a leader within your AIChE community?
My journey with AIChE began five years ago when I first became a chemical engineering student. My life motto has always been: "One should have the courage to look around and see the world not as it is, but as it should be."
During my first year, I approached my advisor and asked how I could develop my skills and contribute to my community. Recognizing my enthusiasm for making a difference, he told me about AIChE.
I joined my university's AIChE Student Chapter as Social Media Officer, later becoming President and then Student Advisor. At the same time, I got involved with the Executive Student Committee, starting as Social Media Officer before serving as Regional Liaison, Regional Chair, and finally Chair of the ESC.
At that time, our student chapter was only one year old. Despite the challenges, opportunities to organize events, meet like-minded peers, and engage with professionals brought me immense joy and helped me grow. These experiences showed me how I could drive change using my technical background.
Today, our student chapter is the most active in our university and in Lebanon. We even hosted the first-ever Lebanese National Meetup and Regional Conference in Lebanon. These achievements were especially meaningful given the difficult times our country has faced. Raising the Lebanese flag in this incredible international community filled me with pride.
As Regional Chair and later Chair of the ESC, I wanted to spread awareness about what chemical engineering truly is, so I began hosting webinars with experts on various topics. Being part of the student chapter really encouraged me to make a difference.
How do you measure the success of your community's impact on its members and the broader profession?
I measured the AIChE ESC community's success both internally and externally. Before organizing any webinar, we sent out polls to our group to assess interested, helping us to tailor content. After each webinar, we followed up with surveys.
We also strengthened the connection between students and professionals by sharing speakers' presentations and contact information, allowing participants to continue networking after the event.
Externally, I evaluated our impact by monitoring engagement on our social media platforms and WhatsApp groups. The consistent influx of messages and participation showed how invested the broader community was.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Members actively networked and often reached out to me directly, which kept communication personal and efficient. This reflected our success in creating a vibrant, supportive community.
What role does networking play in your community's success, and how do you facilitate meaningful connections?
I always say that networking is one of the most important keys to unlocking opportunity. Anyone can be disciplined, work hard, get a degree, or earn a certificate. But it's your ability to communicate, to reach out, to seek opportunities rather than wait for them. That's what makes all the difference.
One thing I'm especially proud of during my time in AIChE ESC is how we broke down barriers between members, regardless of distance, language, culture, or tradition. Now, so many of them see what opportunities exist beyond their immediate world and, more importantly, know how to access them.
To me, networking isn't just exchanging names or LinkedIn links. It's creating a space where people feel seen, heard, and empowered. When we connect with others, we realize borders are imaginary, possibilities multiply, and shared knowledge becomes collective power. That's what we were doing: not just building a network, but constructing bridges to a future that feels more open, reachable, and far more human.
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