Drexeluniversity

Societyofwomenengineers
Summer 2014 edition
Letter from the president
Look out for
our next newsletter !
Page 1
Inside this issue...
Letter from the President
Diversity Day Barbecue & SWE
Olympics
Robotics Workshop
Electrical Engineering & Circuit
Workshop
Mentorship Program
College-to-Career Readiness
Program
10 Tips for a Successful Co-op
Sponsors and Executive Board
1
2
3
3
4
4
5
6
@DrexelSwe
swe.drexel@gmail.com
Join our facebook Group !
Do you prefer tweeting ?
facebook.com/groups/drexelswe
Email us at:
Connect with us:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/
Society-Women-Engineers-Drexel-
University-5152256
Meaghan Paulosky
Just like that, summer is over and fall is
poised to take its place, and while transition-
ing into another school year is nothing new
to me, this time is a little different.

Ive dreamt about being a senior for the last
sixteen or so years (perhaps my entire aca-
demic career), guessing at where Id be, who
Id be with, and what wed all be doing. The
time has finally come and Im ready to com-
plete my degree at one of the most innova-
tive universities on the planet, in a field Im
not only chronically curious about, but one
that is growing faster than I can anticipate.
Best of all, Im doing this with people Im
inspired, chal-
lenged, and sup-
ported by. My
many and varied
guesses severely
underestimated
reality.

Transitioning into
this school year
means transition-
ing out of the
community that
made these things
possible. To know
me is to know Drexel SWE and just how
much it has impacted me. Im certainly going
to miss it, but if being a Drexel SWE
member, chair, director, and now president
has taught me anything, its how to embrace
an unimaginable future.

So, join me in welcoming a Fall Term filled
with new students, new events, SWE Nation-
al Conference, and (soon!) new Drexel SWE
officers!
Page 2
Diversity day: barbecue & Olympics
Drexel Universitys chapter of Society of
Women Engineers held the second annual
Diversity Scholar Barbecue. The Barbecue
was designed to encourage the Drexel Diver-
sity Scholars, who will be freshmen come fall
term, to engage with current engineers on
campus.
This year there were approximately 50 par-
ticipants, including members of Alpha
Omega Epsilon, American Society of Civil
Engineers, American Society of Hispanic
Engineering Professionals, American Society
of Mechanical Engineers, American Institute
of Chemical Engineers, and Society of
Women Engineers.
These organizations came together and
provided interactive activities for both the
Diversity Scholars and members of the orga-
nizations.
These activities included Minute To Win It,
TAPS, icebreakers and volleyball, promoting
good sportsmanship and teamwork.
After the activities, the participants were
able to enjoy a barbecue themed lunch which
encouraged mingling amongst organization
members and scholars.
The first workshop in SWEs first ever
summer engineering series kicked off on July
26, 2014. Students learned how to build
LEGO robots and program their robots using
NXT Mindstorms software to do fun and
interesting stunts.
Drexel engineering organizations enjoy refreshments
Mingling amongst members and scholars
Outreach workshops: Robotics
Members and scholars participate in various activities
Nothing like indulging in a barbecue after fun activities!
Page 3
Students use Lego NXT Mindstorms software
Additionally, there was a presentation by Dr.
Polly Tremoulet, an Applied Informatics
Group employee, on human-robot interac-
tion. Students worked in groups to accom-
plish several robot tasks.
The final activity was a challenge to make the
robots follow a white line on a black back-
ground, which all groups successfully com-
pleted.
The second workshop in the summer series
was August 9, 2014. As always, SWE began
the workshop with a brief presentation this
time on the many applications of electrical
engineering. PECO took the spotlight next
with a panel discussion and show and tell
session.
They demonstrated the transfer of electrical
power from generators to the publics homes
through a scaled model. They also showcased
how to light up an LED with only a few
lemons and conducting wires. Next, SWE
gave a presentation on circuit theory and
students built their own circuit to power up a
single LED.
After that, the students went to one of the
electrical engineering labs where they built
another circuit, this time with two LEDs, and
took measurements of voltage and current.
Finally, students were able to take home
their circuit parts to continue exploring the
exciting field of electrical engineering.
Working together to manipulate the robot!
Students prepping for the final activity
Outreach workshops:
Electrical Engineering & Circuits
Participants listen intently to PECO presentation
Students have fun building LED circuits
Page 4
Drexel SWE started the Freshmen Mentor-
ing program since Fall 2013, where the
freshmen members are paired up with
upperclassmen as mentors and mentees
according to their major and mutual interest.
It is expected that this mentoring program
will help the freshman to communicate
knowledge, transition to college life, identify
useful resources on campus, and to attain
educational and professional goals.
Last academic year, there were 78 members
involved in this program and it has been
seen from a survey from the mentees that
this program helped them achieve their
goals and our expectations to some extent.
There were members who were able to utilize
the campus resources and attain their goals
with the help of their mentors. But, at the
same time there were members, who were
not able to gain the most out of this mentor-
ship program. From the feedback provided
by mentors and mentees, the upcoming
years freshmen mentoring program has
been strategized accordingly, and it is
expected that this year, the program will be
more structured and more beneficial to all
the members involve, with better communi-
cation among mentors and mentees.
The College-to-Career Readiness Program is
newly established by the Drexel Society of
Women Engineers as an initiative to best
prepare young women engineers for the
work force. The goal is to create an interac-
tive environment outside of general meetings
and events that would instill confidence and
increase competence for our members
through interviews for co-ops or future jobs.
The program is primarily executed online via
social media websites such as Facebook and
LinkedIn. Every week, two unique or gener-
ally difficult interview questions are posted
to the Drexel SWE page on both sites, and
anyone in the group is encouraged to com-
ment on how they believe the question
should be approached. This activity is
intended for members to be able to answer
and benefit from others feedback through
the comments sections. Sometimes, these
answers are based on personal and profes-
sional student experiences, while at other
times, they are based off of how it seems
most appropriate to respond. Moreover, this
program provides opportunities for mem-
bers to have their resumes and cover letters
reviewed by officers with similar educational
and work backgrounds, as well as be able to
schedule mock interview sessions with them.
Furthermore, sharing of Professional Devel-
opment tips regarding career development
advice is also regularly posted on the website
to enhance the continuous improvement
process. Thus far, the responses to this pro-
gram have been very positive, and this pro-
gram has started to help ease the members
transition from college to career.
Participants take a group picture with PECO
The Mentorship Program
A mentor and mentee group going strong!
College-to-Career transition
Impress your boss on your first day:
10 smart tips for a successful co-op*
As summer term is coming to an end, stu-
dents are preparing themselves for either
classes or co-op for this upcoming fall term.
For those on co-op, work isnt over. Co-op is
a fantastic opportunity that allows students
to gain experience in the workplace and to
apply their knowledge on an everyday basis.
Its essential to start off on the right foot and
to make an impression on the first day. After
all, who doesnt want to impress their boss
and colleagues right off the bat?
The following tips are taken from U.S News
and were suggested by Holly Paul, Pricewa-
terhouseCoopers U.S recruiting leader:
1. Be on time on the first day.
This may seem like a no-brainer, but its still
extremely important to be on time. Arriving
15 minutes early is sufficient. Being early
demonstrates responsibility and passion,
and is also a good way for you to collect your
thoughts before stepping inside your office.
2. Dress to impress.
You heard me. Its better to be overdressed
than under dressed. Pick something neat,
professional, and comfortable out of your
wardrobe.
3. Research your company more in depth.
You probably know a lot about your compa-
ny already, but make sure to review recent
news about the company and industry. Con-
nect with your colleagues on LinkedIn and
read their profiles to get to know your team
prior to starting your job.
4. Fine tune your elevator pitch.
Practice introducing yourself -- direct eye
contact and first handshakes demonstrate
confidence and assertiveness. This is neces-
sary to appeal to your new colleagues.
5. Dont be afraid of asking questions.
Show your boss that you really care about
the company and that you are ready to learn
more. Be inquisitive and curious about daily
office practices and dont be afraid of asking
questions!
6. Show what you know.
When you first start a job, its normal to
spend a lot of time listening, but make sure
to speak up when you have an idea or
thought to share.
7. Communicate professionally.
Speak loud and clear. Make sure to articulate
properly and enunciate your words to
demonstrate who you are and what youre
passionate about.
8. Share your passions.
Connect with your boss and colleagues on a
personal level and talk about your values and
morals.
9. Hone those listening skills.
The first few weeks on the job should be
spent absorbing reflecting, and learning. Be
sure to pay attention 100% of the time when
you meet new people and learn new things.
10. Take notes!
Im sure were all tired of this one, but taking
notes can be very beneficial. Write down
names, positions, daily tasks, and expecta-
tions. Every detail matters and you will
thank yourself later.
We hope these tips help you transition from
the college lifestyle to the workforce.
* Read more about these tips here:
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voic-
es-ca-
reers/2012/06/20/10-smart-tips-to-impress-the-boss-yo
ur-first-day
Page 5
Page 6
A Special Thank you to all of our sponsors!
Drexel University Society of Women Engineers would like to thank the
following organziations for their support over the last academic term!
Drexel College of Engineering
Drexel American Society of Civil Engineers
Drexel American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Drexel American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Drexel Alpha Omega Epsilon
Drexel Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation
Your contributions help us inspire women in engineering!
Executive board
Meaghan Paulosky
Samantha Schneider
Danielle Schroeder
Jacqueline Gerhart
Farial Fuad
Neha Thomas
Janette Danella
Bhavika Gali
Meridith Bienvenue
Anna Lu
Jasmin Patel
Arulselvi Selvaraja
Shravani Birewar
Soumya Iyer
Elaine Ruiz
Jordan Alexandria Shepherd
Madison Kierod
Rania Mina
Maissoun Ksara
Demi Ferker
Karishma Changlani
Samantha Cassel
Meera Vershneya
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Networking Director
Outreach Director
Membership Director
Professional Development Director
Wellness Director
Public Relations Director
Conference Director
Outreach Chair
Professional Development Chair
Professional Development Chair
Membership Chair
Membership Chair
Treasurer Chair
Treasurer Chair
Publications Chair
Public Relations Chair
Website Chair
Historian Chair
Networking Chair