IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Winter 2023 - 93

to what it is today: monthly webinars
on a variety of topics.
DM: What was your biggest
accomplishment with IEEE SolidState
Circuits Magazine?
AA: Starting the " In Step With "
column! I created this " In Step With "
column a few years ago as a way for
our readers to connect with our volunteers.
Since then, I've interviewed
many different SSCS volunteers for
this column, and it has been so wonderful
to learn about everyone. I've
learned about their personal lives
as well as what they work on professionally.
It really helped me connect
with them better.
My other notable accomplishment
was creating an organization system.
I helped implement and move feature
articles and column submissions to
the ScholarOne platform. For news, I
created an organizational system for
article submission and review.
I was also able to grow Chapter
news, Member news section, and
added sections to the magazine by
really listening to what people wanted
to read about. Aside from the technical
articles, people loved reading
about what other Chapters and Sections
do so that they can go ahead and
implement some of those ideas for
their Chapters.
DM: What was your most difficult
hurdle in the SSCS and how did you
overcome it?
AA: One of the hardest times with
SSCS, IEEE, and even life in general,
was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We had to completely change our way
of thinking and our business. We had
to reinvent the wheel, especially when
it came to things like conferences.
Everything was held virtually, and we
had to be sure to give our volunteers
the same experience that they would
have in person, like our mentoring
sessions. We had to find ways to keep
volunteers engaged and excited.
DM: What SSCS initiatives have
you helped put through?
AA: Many, but to name a few, Chronus
mentoring platform, redoing the
website back in 2016, implementing
ScholarOne for the magazine, etc. A
few years ago, we wanted to find a
Abira at the 2022 European Solid-State Circuits Conference Mentoring Event.
The SSCS booth at the 2022 IEEE Custom
Integrated Circuits Conference in Newport
Beach, California.
means of getting students and young
professionals more involved with Circuits.
I worked with Patrick Yue and
together, we developed a mobile app
called IEEE Volta. It was fun and challenging
putting this app together!
DM: How has the Society impacted
your life outside of your work
and career?
AA: Outside of work-the friendships
I've developed with the volunteers.
These are volunteers that
have taken an interest in my life
and celebrated my life's milestones
with me: getting married, buying a
house, having a baby.
DM: Describe your favorite SSCS
travel memory (or memories).
AA: SSCS has afforded me so many
amazing travel memories! On top of
Abira with her daughter, Rhea.
IEEE SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS MAGAZINE WINTER 2023
93
Abira with her husband, Nick.
IEEE Solid-States Circuits Magazine - Winter 2023

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