SHE thrives in STEM: UDC women are leading the way in the fields of Engineering and IT
SHE thrives in STEM: UDC women are leading the way in the fields of Engineering and IT
Women remain a vastly underrepresented group nationally in engineering and computer science. Since the opening of engineering fields to women in the U.S. beginning in 1966, women have been unable to achieve higher than 21% representation — peaking in 2002, according to National Science Foundation (NSF) reports. UDC aims to change that by helping female engineering and computer science students/alums overcome roadblocks to achieve success.
Attracting women to the STEM field through K-12 educational outreach and critically retaining the female students and graduates of engineering degrees are critical issues. However, Dr. Kate Klein, a UDC professor of mechanical engineering, is making a huge difference in addressing these issues. One of her central goals is to encourage a diverse pipeline into engineering through outreach and student retention activities. During her first semester at UDC in 2012, she started the Society of Women Engineers Club (SWE) club at UDC. SWE seeks to empower underrepresented women to succeed in their careers in STEM. She has worked to mentor students through the club, engage them in outreach, attend conferences, and form a strong network of support and job opportunities.
“I know from my own experience as an undergraduate, SWE taught me how to be a leader, set goals, build a team, and make things happen. It gave me the confidence and sense of belonging lacking in my general courses with only one or two females,” said Klein. “Even now, as a faculty mentor, I enjoy the SWE conferences and the inspiration and self-learning that they provide.”
Dr. Klein, now department chair, understands first-hand what her female students are experiencing and has been an important motivator for them. Her career path has taken her from a small engineering program like that of UDC, through summer fellowships at Oak Ridge National Lab and Stanford University, enrollment in a PhD program in materials science at the University of Tenneessee, to a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and finally consulting for industry before joining UDC. She has 20 years of experience and over 30 publications in nanomaterials research and microscopy, including national recognition for her scientific images of the nano-world, and currently holds a guest researcher appointment at NIST.
Dr. Klein believes that the internship experiences genuinely make the most difference in the ability of students to mature, explore possible career paths, and, most importantly, make them competitive in today’s job market. She has given numerous resume workshops, guided many students in finding and applying to internships and jobs, and coordinated internship colloquiums for students to share their internship experiences with other students.
She currently coordinates the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP, $6.76M over five years), a cooperative agreement for UDC students to intern at NIST and experience research at a national lab while also gaining valuable expertise. Faculty researchers, postdocs, post-baccalaureate and graduate students may collaborate and perform research under the PREP-UDC agreement. Dr. Klein hopes that programs like this will have a lasting impact on the research opportunities at UDC and the career prospects of graduates.
Dr. Klein and Dr. Turpin from UDC’s English department collaborated with members of the SWE club in a podcast last year to explore the intersections between disciplines and connect recent UDC graduates in the field with current students.
We are proud to spotlight these UDC women, who represent the fields of mechanical engineering, internet technology and biomedical engineering, in honor of Women’s History Month. Already pioneers, like Dr. Klein, they are paving the way for other women in their industries.
Mechanical Engineering
Andoniaina (Mariah) Randriambololona is a senior mechanical engineering major and the current president of SWE-UDC. Her dream is to pursue a career combining additive manufacturing and thermal management in the future. She interviewed UDC alum Dr. Eva Mutunga (’14) for the podcast.
Dr. Mutunga received her degree in mechanical engineering and is a postdoctoral research associate in the mechanical engineering department at UDC. Mutunga uses her training in nanofabrication to conduct innovative research for new ideas and projects that merge nanotechnology and additive manufacturing.
Mutunga appreciates the opportunity to play a part in helping realize the SEAS’ vision, which is to be recognized nationally and internationally for its engineering and computer science education that provides transformative urban leaders.
“The reason I came back to UDC to teach is that I want to pay it forward. Working with Dr. Tyagi and Dr. Klein sparked something,” Mutunga said. “Their mentorship changed the trajectory of my life. I am back at UDC to showcase what can happen if you can take women under your wing.”
Mutunga’s goal for the post-doctorate position is to showcase quality research conducted by a woman of color in an HBCU to inspire and encourage more women of color to join the science and engineering field.
Click here to listen to their interview.
Internet Technology
Steffi Graham, born and raised in Jamaica, is a senior information technology major and serves as the secretary of SWE-UDC. She is passionate about helping and empowering youth and volunteers her time to K-12 outreach programs. Graham plans to pursue a career in cybersecurity or digital forensics. Graham interviewed UDC alum (’15) Kamala Mayo for the podcast.
Mayo has a B.S. in information technology and she was the first SWE-UDC vice president. Mayo has held internships at NIST. She also held leadership roles in UDC’s Honors Program and Student Ambassadors. She is now an IT specialist working with the D.C. government while pursuing a master’s degree in digital forensics at the University of Maryland.
“I was a non-traditional student–I wasn’t a UDC student fresh out of high school. I was in community college, then a bit in the Workforce program, and I also had a child,” said Mayo. “My advice for future STEM students is to go for it. Learn a variety of things because one thing might fit better with your personality. You will not know until you try. My other advice is to do as many internships as possible—whether paid or unpaid. You learn and gain experience in internships.”
Click here to listen to their interview.
Biomedical Engineering
Glacia Martin is a junior biomedical engineering student and serves as the vice president of SWE-UDC. She is an undergraduate research assistant and aspires to become a clinical engineer. Martin sat down with UDC graduate Lonika Behera (’18), a B.S. in mechanical engineering.
As a child, Behera loved puzzles and problem-solving and eventually concluded that mechanical engineering was a natural fit for her.
After graduating from UDC, Behera began a post-baccalaureate pre-med program at Temple University. She is now applying to medical schools and working as a medical assistant. Behera enjoys interacting with patients and hopes to use her engineering problem-solving skills for a career as a practicing physician.
Behera advises other women in STEM to speak up and have confidence in their abilities. “Develop relationships with your professors and peers,” she said. “My senior year at UDC was my hardest year, but I spent time with my friends and family. Take time to relax and return refreshed so you can do what you need to do and succeed.”
Click here to listen to their interview.
UDC is one of only four universities in the nation’s capital providing ABET-accredited (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) undergraduate degrees in engineering and computer science and graduate degrees in selected areas. The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences’ (SEAS) curriculum focuses on three fundamental values: technological and scientific competence, the balance between theory and practice, and consideration of the societal and holistic aspects of engineering.
For more information about STEM opportunities at UDC, please contact the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
