The University of Idaho’s College of Engineering (COE) has recently been recognized as an Empowering Women honoree by the Idaho Business Review. Empowering Women recognizes companies and organizations that support and elevate women in Idaho through efforts that advance women in their workplaces and communities.
“Idaho needs more engineers, and that means reaching those underrepresented in the field,” said Alexiss Turner, the College of Engineering Communications and Marketing Strategist.
As part of the selection process, nominees are “reviewed for a demonstrated track record and hiring and promoting women, supporting programs to mentor women in their organizations and addressing inequalities; and establishing diversity and equity inclusion programs to support women,” according to the Idaho Business Review.
UI is now the only institution in Idaho to be recognized by the American Society of Engineering Education for its commitment to building a more vibrant and diverse engineering community, according to a news release. The university is also one out of 29 schools in the nation to be given an Exemplary status
The COE has made it their mission to “engage students across Idaho and the region to experience the many ways engineers and computer scientists use their skills, creativity and teamwork to make the work a better place,” Turner said.
This includes specific events designed to reach K -12 students, such as the Women in Engineering Day, which introduces many levels of students to engineering and computer science concepts through interactive activities and experiential learning in the COE labs on campus.
A similar outreach program is the Engineering Design EXPO, taking place on April 26, which invites visitors to explore interactive projects that current UI students are working on through the Senior Design Capstone Program.
Additionally, the COE’s Engineering Ambassador team travels to rural communities across Idaho and Washington year-round to visit middle and high schools and engage students in STEM activities.
“Engineering Ambassadors are trained to help students see how their existing skills can be applied to engineering and computer science concepts, opening up the opportunity for young students to consider engineering as a viable career field,” Turner said.
The COE is also responsible for a number of mentorship programs, which assisted in their nomination, including the COE Mentorship Program, a partnership with 11 different industry partners that allows mentees to regularly meet with industry professionals, the Society of Women Engineers UI Chapter Mentorship Program, which matches senior engineering students with new, incoming students and the Engineering Design EXPO VIP Mentorship Program, where students are paired with an Engineering Ambassador to participate in personalized activities and mentorship during the Engineering Design EXPO.
Suzie Long, dean of the COE, spoke about how important it was to reach groups currently underrepresented in the engineering field in the news release.
In order to grow Idaho’s workforce pipeline, it’s important to reach a broad audience, especially these minority groups, Long said.
“This award speaks volumes to the effort Idaho companies are making to prepare our state to fill the workforce gap in this area,” she said.
Rebekah Weaver can be reached at [email protected].