ASME Names Leah Putman as President, Engineering for Change
ASME Names Leah Putman as President, Engineering for Change
NEW YORK (Oct. 16, 2026) –The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has announced the appointment of Leah Putman as president of its Engineering for Change (E4C) LLC. She continues in her role as director of engineering for sustainable development at ASME, reporting to Iana Aranda, managing director of sustainability at ASME, and outgoing E4C president.
Across these roles, Putman leads strategy and growth for programs connecting engineering, innovation, and societal impact. Putman brings more than 15 years of experience spanning engineering, manufacturing, product development, sustainability, and social impact. She has spent her career helping organizations navigate uncertainty, make evidence-based decisions, and move promising ideas toward implementation.
“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Leah and witnessing firsthand her ability to bring people, ideas, and expertise together in service of meaningful change. She approaches engineering not only as a technical discipline, but as a powerful tool for improving lives and strengthening communities,” says Aranda. “Leah is an innovative and thoughtful leader who recognizes the importance of ensuring that solutions are informed by a diversity of experiences and perspectives. As E4C president, she will help build a more connected, inclusive, and impact-oriented engineering community, while advancing ASME's commitment to engineering for sustainable development.”
Since joining ASME in 2022, Putman has held leadership roles with both ASME and E4C. Previously, she worked as an independent strategy, engineering, and project management consultant and held technical and leadership positions with Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) in Rwanda and W. L. Gore & Associates in the United States. Putman holds a master’s degree in science from Technische Universiteit Delft in the Netherlands and a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware.
About Engineering for Change
Engineering for Change (E4C) prepares, educates and activates the international technical workforce to improve the quality of life for people and the planet. Founded by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and other leading engineering organizations, E4C connects engineers, technologists, researchers and development practitioners through fellowships, impact projects, learning opportunities and a global knowledge platform. By fostering collaboration across sectors, disciplines and geographies, E4C helps accelerate sustainable, human-centered solutions to the world's most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit engineeringforchange.org.
About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. In 2020, ASME formed the International Society of Interdisciplinary Engineers (ISIE) II & III LLC, a new for-profit subsidiary to house business ventures that will bring new and innovative products, services, and technologies to the engineering community. For more information, visit www.asme.org.
Media Contact:
Monica Shovlin
MCShovlin Communications LLC (for ASME)
541-554-3796
monica@mcshovlin.com
“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Leah and witnessing firsthand her ability to bring people, ideas, and expertise together in service of meaningful change. She approaches engineering not only as a technical discipline, but as a powerful tool for improving lives and strengthening communities,” says Aranda. “Leah is an innovative and thoughtful leader who recognizes the importance of ensuring that solutions are informed by a diversity of experiences and perspectives. As E4C president, she will help build a more connected, inclusive, and impact-oriented engineering community, while advancing ASME's commitment to engineering for sustainable development.”
Since joining ASME in 2022, Putman has held leadership roles with both ASME and E4C. Previously, she worked as an independent strategy, engineering, and project management consultant and held technical and leadership positions with Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) in Rwanda and W. L. Gore & Associates in the United States. Putman holds a master’s degree in science from Technische Universiteit Delft in the Netherlands and a bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware.
About Engineering for Change
Engineering for Change (E4C) prepares, educates and activates the international technical workforce to improve the quality of life for people and the planet. Founded by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and other leading engineering organizations, E4C connects engineers, technologists, researchers and development practitioners through fellowships, impact projects, learning opportunities and a global knowledge platform. By fostering collaboration across sectors, disciplines and geographies, E4C helps accelerate sustainable, human-centered solutions to the world's most pressing development challenges. For more information, visit engineeringforchange.org.
About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. In 2020, ASME formed the International Society of Interdisciplinary Engineers (ISIE) II & III LLC, a new for-profit subsidiary to house business ventures that will bring new and innovative products, services, and technologies to the engineering community. For more information, visit www.asme.org.
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Media Contact:
Monica Shovlin
MCShovlin Communications LLC (for ASME)
541-554-3796
monica@mcshovlin.com
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