Biosketch
As an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company, Draper provides engineering services directly to government, industry and academia. As a cornerstone partner of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), Draper is investing in the future of the university and in the city of Lowell. The Electronic Systems division’s planned new lab in the LINC development promises to be a hub of research and innovation that will tap the expertise of our faculty and students and bring groundbreaking R&D projects into production.
The numerous career-connected experiences that Draper offers to our students through capstone projects, internships, co-op positions and mentoring are enriching their educations and creating opportunities for career advancement. The Draper Scholars program is enabling our hardworking graduate students to continue their education and advance their research.
The impact of our work together is far-reaching. It has given students hands-on experiences that prepare them to tackle the most pressing challenges in today’s world, and it has set the stage for revolutionary research and development that is improving lives.
Accepting the Chancellor’s Medal on behalf of Draper is Sarah Leeper, vice president and general manager of Electronic Systems. She leads the development of impactful solutions to meet the nation’s toughest technical challenges, specifically in the areas of microelectronics and guidance, navigation and control systems.
With more than 25 years of experience in aerospace and defense, microelectronics, security, high-performance computing and financial technology markets, Leeper has helped grow Draper’s Electronic Systems by expanding its scope of work in support of national security.
Most recently, Leeper was instrumental in establishing Draper’s 12th campus at UMass Lowell, which opened in 2024 to focus on specialized microelectronics for the military, critical infrastructure and space exploration markets.
Leeper earned an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and two bachelor of science degrees in computer engineering and neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh.