The 1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry (AWE-1) will be the inaugural Topical Conference & Exhibition of the AVS Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (EL) Technical Group, co-organized in collaboration with the North American Ellipsometry Association (NAEA). AWE-1 is especially dedicated to the participation of undergraduate and graduate students, providing ample opportunities for scientific and technical discussions and professional networking, to help them become the next generation of talented ellipsometry users and innovators. Accordingly, AWE-1 is a workforce development initiative that aims to provide a pipeline of young talent for EL sessions at the annual AVS Symposia & Exhibitions.