Paula Loring Simon [1947 – ]
Paula was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended elementary and secondary schools in Manhasset Hills, Long Island. She received her Bachelors of Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1968, cum laude. She received her Masters in Electrical Engineering from University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana in 1969.
Career Following graduation, Paula joined Honeywell in the Boston area as a system engineer. In 1974, she joined MITRE Corp as a Member of the Technical Staff. In 1977, Paula received her Master of Business Administration from Boston University.
In 1979, Paula joined Arthur D. Little as an information technology consultant. In 1983, she moved to New York City and became Manager of Information Systems for Cushman & Wakefield, a full service commercial real estate firm. In 1988, she joined Telerate Systems (which became Dow Jones/Telerate) as Vice President for system development. In 1993, she became General Manager for MetLife Insurance Company first in Scranton, Pennsylvania and later in Troy, New York.
In 1999, Paula became General Manager and Chief Technology Officer at MBIA. In 2000, she became Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the Wildlife Conservation Society, with headquarters at the Bronx Zoo. Following her first retirement in 2012, she became Chief Information Officer at Central Synagogue in Manhattan. Full retirement followed in 2013.
Paula was recognized as an early contributor in the field of computer design, systems development, and Information Systems Management. She was a dynamic leader that created value through the use of technology.
SWE Paula joined SWE in 1970 in the SWE Boston Section and became a Senior Member in 1986. Paula had an active SWE “career” becoming SWE President 1978-79 and a member of the SWE Board of Trustees from 1989-92. Paula was in the first group of SWE members to receive the Distinguished New Engineer Award in 1979. She became a SWE Fellow in 1988.
Other Affiliations Paula is an active alumna of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She was the first woman President of the RPI Alumni Association (1994-1995). She received the Distinguished Service Award in 2015. She is a member of the RPI Board of Trustees.
Scholarship Paula endowed the Paula Loring Simon Scholarship in 2014.
Number Available: 1
Class: Freshmen
Major: CprE, CS, EE
Amount: $1750
Renewable: 4 Years
Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0
