Aleasha Burnell Engineering Pathways Scholarship (Est. 2026)
Aleasha Burnell is a global supply chain leader with more than 25 years of experience delivering results in highly regulated environments, including pharmaceuticals and medical devices. As Director, Digital Quality at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, she shapes digital governance and solutions that strengthen compliance, elevate patient safety, and improve end-to-end execution. Grounded in the belief that engineering is ultimately about people, Aleasha translates complexity into practical outcomes that protect patients, improve quality of life, and help organizations deliver with confidence. That purpose also fuels her commitment to supporting students through SWE.
Aleasha’s decision to endow a scholarship with SWE is rooted in gratitude and in her conviction that investing in students helps fuel the innovations that improve lives. She earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Florida (USF), an M.A. in Management from Webster University, and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida (UF). As an undergraduate, she was a recipient of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship—recognition that strengthened her resolve to pursue a career of impactthrough engineering and leadership.
That same commitment to opening doors shows up in Aleasha’s long-standing service to the Society of
Women Engineers. A Life Member of SWE, she has devoted years of volunteer leadership to creating
belonging, broadening access to development opportunities, and supporting members at different career
stages. She serves as Chair of the SWE Leadership Journeys Working Group, helping members identify
growth experiences and translating them into leadership confidence. She has also served on SWE’s
Curriculum Committee and Awards Committee, strengthening learning experiences and elevating stories
of excellence that inspire others to persist and thrive.
In her professional career, Aleasha brings this focus on development and opportunity into day-to-day
practice. Within Johnson & Johnson, she advances engineering development through WiSTEM 2 D
(Winning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Manufacturing, and Design), serving as the
SWE Corporate Partner Council (CPC) liaison. In this role, she helps translate organizational
commitments into measurable action—enabling mentorship, visibility, and development experiences that
strengthen the pipeline of engineers in both technical and leadership roles. She is known for mentoring
with intention, aligning individuals’ strengths and aspirations with opportunities that build capability,
credibility, and career momentum.
She also extends her advocacy through service to the USF Medical
Engineering Advisory Board (EAB) as a founding member and Secretary, strengthening
academic–industry connection and helping shape curricula aligned to evolving workforce needs.
Based in St. Augustine, Florida, Aleasha brings a service mindset to everything she does—whether
guiding global digital quality strategy, mentoring emerging leaders, or strengthening the communities she
calls home. Through her endowed scholarship with SWE, she hopes to remove barriers for students
pursuing engineering degrees and to affirm a simple truth: your ideas matter, and you can lead
meaningful change.
Proud to partner with SWE in shaping the future of the profession, Aleasha invites
others who share this purpose to join her in advancing what comes next.
