As a queer Latina in engineering classes, I often lack representation amongst my leaders

and even peers. Upon joining the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) two years

ago, I noticed only six people regularly attended Spring quarter meetings. I felt disheartened at

the low turnout because I knew other Latinos in STEM fields were missing out on excellent

resources. I realized the importance of leadership relative to increasing participation for future

generations and fostering a community environment, and I was thus elected as the Director of

Outreach and Community Relations. I am passionate about serving as a representative voice in

engineering where the conversations about diversity have historically centered around white

women whose view of feminism does not reflect the needs of marginalized communities in the

United States. To address continuing inequities, women of color must be given resources, access,

and a platform to speak about our experiences and initiate productive change. Through my

platform as a leader in the Latino STEM community, I hope to encourage struggling,

underrepresented students to achieve their highest potential. During student mentorship, I will

learn to prioritize their needs and listen to their recommendations as these voices are crucial in a

system that prioritizes the voices of white men.

To engage with students and meet their needs, I aim to successfully implement my Future

Meets Present (FMP) project by actively fostering relationships with public schools and

continuing the growth of SHPE. FMP consists of an outreach event where middle and high

school students will be invited to visit the UW Seattle Campus and learn about opportunities and

resources available. This event occurs during Engineering Discovery Days in the Spring when

SHPE will invite low-income and underrepresented students from Eastern Washington to receive

mentorship from UW students. With the aid of corporate sponsorships, we will feed all the

students for a day, help their schools with the cost of transportation, and engage them in team
building engineering exercises such as rocket launching. SHPE previously ran this event with up

to 30 students, but in recent years the event has not transpired due to late planning and

uncoordinated leadership from the officers. I intend to revitalize and revive FMP up to an

attendance of 50 students by establishing strong relationships with schools in the Greater Seattle

Area who have historically been left out of FMP.

Beyond my personal goals, multiple other factors behind the project itself affect its

success. These include coordination with organizations in the University such as the Office of

Minority Affairs and Diversity and other registered student organizations like National Society

of Black Engineers. The timeline for the project is as follows: this Fall we will launch and finish

SHPE’s first ever USEED campaign to raise $4,500 for our club. This fundraising campaign

relies entirely on student networks and contacts, and because of the challenges associated with

online crowdfunding, I will need to learn how to advocate and fundraise. I aim to hone and

utilize my career skills in reaching out to corporate contacts who will support the SHPE mission

of equity in STEM. I will also thoroughly promote the campaign on multiple SHPE social

networks that I implemented and continue to run. Most of the funds will send students to the

SHPE National Conference, where they network with professionals and land internships, but a

portion will pay for FMP and also provide scholarships for our students so they may study

without the strain of tuition. In January, I will begin compiling a list of contacts at middle and

high schools to foster community relationships and advertise FMP to underrepresented minority

students in those schools. While we recruit individuals, I will work with professionals to gather

funds, plan activities, and ensure sufficient mentorship to realize this project. Leading up to

FMP, I hope to learn how a team effectively communicates and coordinates to assure sufficient

preparation such as purchasing supplies, planning meals, organizing our sponsors to lead student
activities, and ensuring the students’ prompt arrival to Engineering Discovery days. This

preparation peaks during Winter and early Spring quarters and culminates with the event itself in

late April.

FMP will allow SHPE to build a community around the promotion of equity in STEM

and will foster mentorship between younger students and experienced students or professionals

who provide career and life advice. Beyond FMP, I also want to double the number of academic

and career workshops offered by SHPE such as Resume/Cover Letter help, Career Fair

preparation, and a Dinner with Professionals. While FMP acts as the focus of my leadership

project, the other services will enable me to continue promoting underrepresented voices in

STEM and provide crucial growth opportunities for students. I aim to increase community

relations by engaging with departments in the university, professionals in the area, and students

at UW who seek to give back to deserving communities through the SHPE mission. While my

growth of our social media last year enabled average attendance to increase from less than ten to

just under twenty, I aim to continue increasing this number to at least twenty-five through a

commitment to forging friendships with all club members. Ultimately, I hope to set future

leaders on a track to continue individual and chapter growth for many years to come, with

continuous improvements to FMP and to the mentorship we provide for prospective students in

public schools. I intend to promote the goals of SHPE not only during my project but also for the

rest of my life as I will constantly and actively give back to the community of future Latinos in

STEM. I hope to reflect on leadership throughout this project in order to apply it to my career

and to my role as a mentor for silenced voices.

To me, leadership stems from advocating for others, learning from your mistakes, and

forcing yourself into an uncomfortable position that fosters personal growth and commitment.
These ideals guide me through everyday scenarios and will teach me how to succeed with my

FMP and personal leadership goals. During this school year I also want to build communication

and teamwork skills to run for President of SHPE in the upcoming year. The challenges that I

face in communicating with my fellow SHPE officers and coordinating such a large-scale event

will prepare me for future leadership roles of any size, encourage me to lead through problem-

solving, and demonstrate how best to promote equity in STEM.

I will seek the mentorship of Dr. Patty Buchanan, a professor in Industrial Engineering,

during my leadership journey. As a Latina who pursued her education to the highest degree and

then excelled in her career, Dr. Buchanan inspires and encourages me through her desire to help

others in both corporate and academic environments. She has completed projects at much higher

scales and worked with people from a variety of backgrounds, and this expertise will aid me in

accomplishing my goals throughout the duration of my project. Although I have some officer

experience from last year, additional help and mentorship from Dr. Buchanan will enhance my

leadership and project management skills, ensure that I reach my goals, and help me grow as a

student, leader, and future professional. I hope to check in with my mentor at critical points

during my project as well as dedicate ten hours a week through its duration. The Mary Gates

Scholarship would remove financial burdens currently covered by extra shifts at work and enable

me to fully pursue the promotion of equity in STEM.