Eileen Clement Boardman (c. 1942 – October 11, 2018) was an American statistician and solar energy scientist whose research included the use of statistical principles in measuring the performance of solar energy systems.[1] She was the first woman to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University,[1][2] and served as president of the Caucus for Women in Statistics.[3]
Boardman was born c. 1942, and grew up in Pennsylvania.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree from Bucknell University, and a master's degree from Rutgers University.[4]
She was affiliated with the department of statistics at Colorado State University beginning in the early 1970s,[5] and became an instructor for their introductory statistics courses in the 1970s and 1980s, also teaching in mechanical engineering and business.[2] Returning to graduate study, she completed a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Colorado State University in 1986, with a dissertation applying statistical quality measures to solar power.[1] She became the first woman at Colorado State to earn this degree.[1][2] After completing her doctorate, she became a statistical consultant,[1][2] naming her firm Boardman Associates.[1]
She survived a bout of breast cancer in 2004, and died on October 11, 2018, of pancreatic cancer.[1]
Boardman became president of the Caucus for Women in Statistics for 1982.[3]
Colorado State University maintains a student award named for Boardman, the Thomas J. and Eileen C. Boardman Statistical Consulting Award.[6]
