Lillian Murad

Lilian G. Murad (May 29, 1917 – March 22, 2004) was an American textile designer and the second president of The Society of Women Engineers (1952–1953).

Early life and education Lillian G. Murad was born 29 May 1917 in Tbilisi, Georgia to Levon Murad and Veronica Arvanian. There was turbulance in the region at this time due to the Armenian genocide. Murad grew up in France and studied music at the Conservatory of Music in Nice where she won first prize in Piano in 1933. After the family moved to New York Murad continued her musical, theatrical and dance studies until 1942.

Murad changed course however and began studying Chemical Engineering at Pratt University. In 1947 she was awarded the Tau Beta Pi Women's Badge. In 1948, Murad was the first woman to be awarded a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Pratt University. She belonged to the Institute's Honorary Association of Engineers. She continued her studies by pursuing graduate education at New York University.

Career Murad's first role was as a junior engineer at Pacific Food Products Inc. in Brooklyn, New York. which she owned and managed between 1949 and 1953. where she was Assistant Manager and Vice President between 1948 and 1955.

Personal life In 1955, she married Rostom Bablanian

Murad taught Chemistry at Oyster Bay High School and continued to enjoy Armenian music, dance and theatre throughout her life. She was fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Russian and Armenian.

She died in 2004, aged 87.