Barbara Lange Earns W&J Alumni Award

Barbara Lange, SMPTE Executive Director, has been honoured by her alma mater – Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) – with its 2017 Alumni Award for Achievement.

Since 2000, the W&J Alumni Award for Achievement has been presented annually to an alumnus or alumna of W&J who has reached the pinnacle of his or her chosen field and, through this achievement, has brought recognition to the college. The connection of W&J graduates to SMPTE goes back decades. Ken Mason and his son John Mason, who respectively served in the role of SMPTE president from 1975-76 and 2001-02, both are graduates of the college.

"Barbara is an outstanding example of the best that comes of a liberal arts education," said Patricia A. Brletic, Ph.D., chemistry professor at W&J and Lange's college advisor, during the award ceremony. "Though it has been many years since she opened a chemistry book, the scientific method Barbara learned at Washington & Jefferson laid the foundation for her career success."

Brletic joined John C. Knapp, Ph.D., W&J's newly appointed president, in presenting the award to Lange.

Lange majored in chemistry and German while earning her bachelor of arts from W&J. In 2010, she joined SMPTE as Executive Director and is responsible for executing the SMPTE Board of Governors' strategic vision to increase the Society's visibility and relevance in the media ecosystem.

"It's wonderful to see Barbara honored by her alma mater for her outstanding professional achievements," said Matthew Goldman, SMPTE president. "She has made invaluable contributions to the development and growth of SMPTE, and her leadership of the Society is a powerful example for students and young professionals entering the media and entertainment industry."

Lange commented: "At SMPTE I am challenged to increase the diversity within our membership and leadership ranks because when there is a diverse workforce, great things happen. So, I look to academic institutions such as Washington & Jefferson to fill the pipeline with talented, creative, innovative, thoughtful women – and men – who can help me achieve this goal."

Image: Barbara Lange; Patricia A. Brletic, Ph.D.; and John C. Knapp, Ph.D.

www.smpte.org

(JP/LM)