HTHH-Southeast Texas Board of Directors

Lara Foster

President

Lara brings over a decade of engineering and management experience across various industries, including defense, energy, and now semiconductor. She has worked for corporations and as an independent consultant. Moreover, her commitment extends beyond professional endeavors. She has actively contributed to nonprofit initiatives, volunteering for Bauer Graduate Women’s Network (BGWB) as Director of Mentorship and Director of Alumni Relations.
She is deeply committed to addressing the gender gap in STEM. Her dedication stems from her time at Raytheon during a co-op program, where she witnessed firsthand the contributions made by women in STEM. This experience impacted her with valuable insights into the daily activities of engineers and fueled her determination to pursue a long-term career in the field. Lara is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to HTHH’s mission of achieving equitable representation for women in the STEM workforce.

Lara holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, she is graduating with an MBA from the University of Houston (UH), focusing on business modeling & decision-making, supply chain, and corporate finance. UH also nominated her to join the nation’s largest leadership honor society, the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). Lara is committed to learning and holds numerous professional certificates, including strategic management from Wharton online, R6 Sigma specialist from Raytheon, PMP certification from Project Management Institute (PMI), and many others. Beyond her professional and volunteer pursuits, Lara enjoys spending time with her family, helping others, engaging in 3D printing, and playing board games.

Dr. Carmen de La Penha

Treasurer

Dr. Carmen de La Penha, a foreign medical graduate from Brazil, currently holds the position of Assistant Professor and Clinical Trials Manager at Baylor College of Medicine. In her capacity at BCM, she oversees clinical trials, demonstrating her expertise in the health sciences.

Beyond her professional duties, Carmen dedicates her time to volunteering as a Mentor for the Bauer Graduate Women’s Network at the University of Houston. This non-profit organization is committed to empowering female business professionals, fostering leadership among women in the business sector, and promoting diversity in the global workforce.

In December 2023, Carmen took on the role of Financial Officer at HTHH-Southeast Texas as a volunteer. In her position at High-Tech High Heels, Carmen aims to leverage her diverse skill set and passion for STEM to advance the organization’s mission. She strives to ensure that girls and young women have access to high-quality STEM education and equitable pathways into the field. Through her volunteer efforts, she actively contributes to the advancement and empowerment of women, aligning perfectly with the mission of High-Tech High Heels.

Carolyn Tobin

Board Member

Carolyn Tobin holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Oklahoma State University and a M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University.   She recently retired after 25 years with Bell Flight and 35 years working as an Industrial Engineer.  At Bell Flight, Carolyn held a variety of positions including, Manager of Equipment Engineering, Manager of Supply Chain – Composite Center of Excellence, Manager of Integrated Supply Chain SAP Implementation, and Manager in Design Engineering.  Carolyn is a Six Sigma Black Belt with expertise in statistical tools to drive improvements.

Carolyn is an active volunteer, serving local and national organizations.  Carolyn has long been dedicated to increasing the number of young women entering Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields.  Aligned with her passion for growth of STEM in the United States and associated opportunities for women, she joined the leadership team of High-Tech High Heels in 2012.  Carolyn has served in various leadership positions, including Treasurer, for High-Tech High Heels.

Reagan Henley

Community Impact & Grant Chair

Reagan Henley is a graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in Marketing. She brings five years of experience with corporate grant making and nonprofit partnerships. She specializes in facilitating and coordinating the implementation of community outreach programs that align with the organization’s mission and values, as well as fostering relationships with partners. 

Although her background is not in STEM, Reagan is passionate about advancing opportunities for girls and women in STEM fields. She took the role of Community Impact Chair at High-Tech High Heels in March 2023 and is excited to help close the gender gap in STEM.