Dr. Sania Irwin serves as the president of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS), and the chair of the Board of Trustees of the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF). She joined her local League in Glen Ellyn (Illinois) in 2018, and spearheaded the nonpartisan Get Out The Vote (GOTV) effort the same year, which positively impacted voter participation in low turnout precincts by 5 percentage points. An active and respected civic leader, she has organized forums and town-halls tackling topics such as money in politics, freedom of the press, health care, education, immigration, etc., that inform voters and inspire participation.
Sania is Co-founder and President of One Community, a 501(c)(3) charitable entity, which aims to raise awareness, acceptance, and involvement of neighbors of all backgrounds. The organization focuses on policies, programs, and actions that build community through meaningful relationships and deeper understanding across diverse community members. It was the key proponent behind the adoption of a local Welcoming Community Resolution in 2019, and successfully advocated for establishing a Community Relations Commission (CRC) in 2021. Sania also serves as the Chairperson of the CRC, which has led the effort in instituting a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy and lens for the local jurisdiction.
Passionate about education, Sania serves on Northwestern University’s Industrial Engineering & Management Sciences Advisory Board, which provides guidance on academic programs, accreditation, and facilitates student mentoring and alumni involvement.
Dr. Irwin is an accomplished technology executive. She is the Senior Vice President of Engineering & Impact at EagleRail Container Logistics, where she is responsible for corporate purpose, and mission-aligned intelligent, data-driven, automation solutions. She has previously held various senior executive and technology positions at Motorola, Nokia, General Motors, and Xerox.
Sania is the recipient of the 2020 Adade Wheeler Woman of Distinction Award, which recognizes significant contributions by an individual, to the personal and professional advancement of women, through education, advocacy, and mentoring.
Dr. Irwin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree (Magna Cum Laude) in Computer Science and Mathematics from University of Rochester, and Master of Science and PhD degrees in Industrial Engineering / Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University. She holds US patents, has served as rapporteur of industry standards, and spoken at numerous professional conferences.
Sania lives with her family in the Chicago suburbs, enjoys distance running, and loves to travel.