From Childhood Invention to Engineering Leadership with Dr. Tahira Reid Smith

Engineering is more than just numbers and equations—it’s about people, innovation, and solving real-world problems. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tahira Reid Smith, an engineer, educator, and entrepreneur who is shaping the future of engineering through human-centered design. From childhood inspiration to groundbreaking research, she has dedicated her career to making technology more inclusive, effective, and meaningful.

Dr. Reid Smith is the Arthur L. Glenn Professor of Engineering Education and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University. She is also the founder of Jump Dreams, Inc. and leads the Research in Engineering and Interdisciplinary Design Laboratory. Her expertise spans multiple fields, including psychology, social sciences, and engineering, to create solutions that put human needs first. In this conversation, she shares her journey from a childhood invention to industry collaborations with NASA and Procter & Gamble. She offers insights into innovation, diversity, and the role of persistence in engineering breakthroughs.

Join us as we talk to Dr. Reid Smith about her career, her work on diversity in STEM, and her entrepreneurial drive to bring big ideas to life whether you’re an engineer, entrepreneur, or just someone interested in how technology and design impact our world this episode is full of inspiration and practical advice.

In This Episode:

[01:48] The story of inventing the Double Dutch robotic device and how she became an engineer.

[02:29] When studying mechanical engineering, she remembered her third-grade dream and was inspired to start sketching ideas.

[03:32] She loved Double Dutch and wanted a machine that could turn ropes.

[04:21] Tahira always enjoyed math and science. She excelled and decided to major in mechanical engineering.

[06:49] We learn how attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shaped her approach to engineering and innovation.

[07:27] There was a culture of design and entrepreneurship, and you were encouraged to get a patent. The Maker culture was common.

[08:57] We learn about human-centered design and why it's crucial. It's all about keeping the human at the center of the process.

[11:40] We learn about a collaboration that Tahira worked on at Purdue that looked at thermal properties of curly hair. The human consideration was looking at heat damage that black women could experience.

[14:03] Tahira breaks down how the interdisciplinary approach affects her process. It's common to bring in social science methods in design theory. Psychology and social science insights are very valuable.

[17:10] How technology transfer professionals can facilitate collaborations across different academic departments. Working with an interdisciplinary team might help answer questions you couldn't do alone.

[18:44] Tahira was also a teleworker at NASA from 2022 to 2021 in the Convergent Aeronautics Solutions Group.

[21:14] We learn about industry partnerships such as partnering with General Motors and Proctor and Gamble. Connections are helpful, but persistence is often times required.

[25:09] Tahira is a co-founder of Black in Engineering. Diversity helps reduce instances of bias and blind spots.

[28:55] Promoting diversity and inclusion. Be intentional when engaging with the faculty on campus. Is the database representative of the community's demographics?

[30:24] Compassionate design is a framework created to help engineers think about the dignity, security, and empowerment that users ought to feel when engaging with your creation.

[31:47] Ask questions about your product, suc