Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Aeronautics and Astronautics

We strive to create a place where everyone has the opportunity to excel. Below is a list of resources and activities available to all our students to ensure everyone feels welcome, heard and understood in our community.

 

Our Activities Include

  • Making topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion a prime concern in the department
  • Hosting listening sessions with Aeronautics and Astronautics students who identify with underrepresented groups
  • Responding to university communications, fostering discussion and reflection
  • Holding faculty and staff conversations for implementation and continued improvement of processes to foster and improve diversity, inclusion, and equality, such that all students, staff, and faculty can thrive and attain their best potential

Additional resources, including scholarships, training and events, can be found at the College of Engineering DEI page.

AAE History

2010-11
  • The department changed how faculty searches are done. To broaden the pool, instead of having discipline groups do searches, all searches are AAE-wide.
2013-14
  • The department formed a faculty/staff committee to improve the climate for all. A survey was conducted to understand undergraduate and graduate student concerns on that climate.
Spring 2015
  • AAE’s diversity and inclusion committee was established. The committee includes faculty, staff, and students.
2016-19
  • AAE began formally engaging with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). A partnership with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), led by professor Dan DeLaurentis, led to a NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) in 2019.
  • Also, in 2018-19, started to engage Morgan State on the Base-11 rocket design-build-test project with the goal of establishing student and faculty exchanges with thanks to Scott Meyer.
2017-18
  • Appointed Alina Alexeenko as AAE associate head on strategic initiatives with focus on improving diversity and inclusion.
  • Started monthly faculty-and-staff lunches to improve communication and climate.
2018-19
  • Started open houses to recruit female and URM freshman to AAE under the leadership of Karen Marais (newly appointed associate head for AAE’s UG program).
  • Launched the inaugural Amelia Earhart Aerospace Summit under the leadership of Alina Alexeenko to empower all of our students in aerospace engineering and to promote diversity in all of its forms. Students from The University of Michigan and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign were involved in our inaugural event. In 2019, broadened this event nationwide.

Read more about the Amelia Earhart Aerospace Summit.

National Awareness Initiatives

AIAA Sci Tech

Organized and participated in a plenary session as a panel member on “Diversity and Inclusion in the Aerospace Workforce” organized by John Tracy (VP & CTO of Boeing) and moderated by Sandy Magnus (AIAA Executive Director) at the 2015 AIAA Sci Tech, Orlando, Florida Jan. 8, 2015.

Key Speeches and Events

Speech on Unconscious Bias at AIAA Sci Tech 2015

In this impactful speech delivered at the 2015 AIAA Sci Tech in Orlando, Florida, Tom Shih highlighted the pervasive nature of unconscious bias in the workplace and society. Through compelling examples, such as the misidentification of American figure skater Michelle Kwan and personal anecdotes, the speech emphasized the need for heightened self-awareness to combat unconscious biases. The speaker urged the audience to recognize and mitigate these biases to promote fairness and equality in professional and social interactions.

Read the full speech

Amelia Earhart Aerospace Summit Opening Remarks

At the inaugural Amelia Earhart Aerospace Summit, Tom Shih welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of embracing and empowering all individuals. The opening remarks drew inspiration from historical milestones and notable figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Amelia Earhart, highlighting their contributions to equality and progress. The speech underscored the significance of continuing efforts to realize a world where individuals are judged by their character rather than their race, gender, or background. The speaker also recognized key organizers and contributors to the summit, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Read the full remarks

 

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Caretakers

We acknowledge Purdue University is located on the traditional homelands of the Woodland People. We honor and appreciate these indigenous caretakers which include the Bodéwadmik (Potawatomi), Lenape (Delaware), Myaamia (Miami), and Shawnee People.

Diversity Statement

We at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics are committed to promoting an inclusive environment that recruits, retains, and celebrates the diverse lived-experiences of our students, postdocs, faculty, and staff and to provide them opportunities and training to excel personally and professionally. As aeronautical engineers at Purdue, we are taking intentional steps to act against all forms of racism, sexism, ableism, xenophobia, transphobia, and other structures of oppression embedded in the fabric of our society. We are fostering a diverse and inclusive environment for students, postdocs, staff, and faculty from all underrepresented and underprivileged groups. We understand that equity is a long-term endeavor and affirm our commitment to sustainable efforts that improve the climate and cultural change within our academic institution.

We will actively strive to educate ourselves on the many different ways that systematic exclusion and inequalities present themselves, to recognize and eradicate exclusionary practices, to call out discrimination when we see it, to humbly learn from our missteps, and to commit to building a safe and equitable climate where our faculty, staff, and students can thrive. We commit to actively celebrating, learning from, promoting, and advocating for the diversity of races, religions, political alignment, colors, ages, national origins and ancestries, genetic backgrounds, marital and parental statuses, sexes and sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, disabilities, and socioeconomic and veteran statuses that individuals bring to our school. Our mission remains the same:

To be the premier source of scientific discoveries and of well-educated aeronautical engineers, fostering strong academic and industrial ties.

 

Graduate Students

Faculty, Staff and Postdocs

 

Purdue has more than 1,000 student organizations and clubs to get engaged in, from student government and volunteer organizations to club sports.

University-Wide Offices for Inclusion and Success

College of Engineering Offices for Inclusion and Success

  • Minority Engineering Program — Established in 1974, our programs have been nationally recognized and replicated to advance engineering learning, discovery, and engagement in fulfillment of the Land Grant promise through outreach, recruitment, and retention of historically underrepresented students in their pursuit to become extraordinary Purdue engineers.
  • Women in Engineering Program — From mentoring to career development, WIEP continually encourages current and future women engineering students by providing interesting and engaging programming relevant to their lives. WIEP programs are a place to learn, discover, and explore aspects of engineering and connect with others who are also interested. They are a place of encouragement, support, and positive perspectives for those who are interested in following their dreams by pursuing an engineering degree.
  • Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advancement Leadership in Engineering (IDEAL Engineering) — The former Diversity Action Committee was reconstituted as IDEAL to seek out inclusion, diversity, and equity advancement opportunities across CoE students, staff, and faculty. It also researches best practices and policies and proposes practical recommendations for action to the Engineering Leadership Team.

Faculty and Staff

West Lafayette

 
  • In the event of an emergency, call 911 on campus, or call PUPD main phone number. The Purdue Crisis Intervention Team are accessed through dialing 911 (on West Lafayette campus only).
  • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline — call 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 — is available 24/7 with crisis counseling and other support for people who are going through emotional distress from a disaster, including infectious disease outbreaks. Spanish speakers text Hablanos to 66746.
  • Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor. The Crisis Text Line connects you to a live, trained volunteer who can provide support — medical advice is not provided.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — call 800-273-TALK (8255) — The Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support.
  • If concerned about the immediate safety of a student, call 765-494-8221 for Purdue University Police Department to conduct a ‘Welfare Check’ (they will go around to a student’s residence to make sure they are OK).
 

Student Enrollment in Aeronautics & Astronautics at Purdue

Preliminary figures, Fall 2022

  • 1674 total students; 1077 undergraduates, 597 graduates​
  • 1388 male students (82.9%), 286 female students (17.1%)​
  • 148 underrepresented minority students (8.8%)​
  • 296 International students (17.7%)

Aerospace Engineers Overall

Most recent figures (2019) from datausa.io.

  • 135,424 aerospace engineers in the U.S.
  • 87.6% male, 12.4% female
  • 61.3% White (non-Hispanic), 12.3% Black, 11.5% White (Hispanic), 6.3% Asian
 
 

Students

Faculty, Staff and Postdocs

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — confidential professional on-site counseling
  • Center for Healthy Living — available for faculty staff, retirees, and their family members 8 weeks and older including J-1 Visa plan participants. Services to treat common illnesses, manage chronic conditions, provide preventive care and promote overall health.

Greater Lafayette

  • IU Health Arnett Hospital Emergency Medicine, 5165 McCarty Ln, Lafayette, IN. Phone: (765) 448-8000
  • St. Francis Emergency Room, 1701 S Creasy Ln, Lafayette, IN. Phone: (765) 502-4000
  • Franciscan ExpressCare West Lafayette, 909 Sagamore Parkway West, West Lafayette, IN. Phone: (765) 463-6262
  • Sycamore Springs, 833 Park E. Blvd., Lafayette, IN. Phone: (765) 743-4400
  • River Bend Hospital, 2900 N. River Rd, West Lafayette, IN. Phone: (765) 464-0400

Online Mental Health Resources

  • NIH OITE is also concentrating heavily on wellness. They have offered workshops, small group discussions etc. Most of the workshops have been recorded so if you have missed them you can still have access to the information.
  • National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) — the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization — educates, advocates, listens and leads to help build better lives for those affected by mental illness. NAMI Helpline can be reached at 800-950-NAMI (6264), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email info@nami.org. Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting “NAMI” to 741741 – 24/7-crisis support via text message.
  • Mental Health America (MHA) — the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness. The Crisis Center Hotline can be reached via 765-742-0244 (call or text) or toll-free at 877-419-1632 for any problem at any time.
  • Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) — SPRC has compiled a set of resources specific to helping mental health and COVID-19.
  • Parent / Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope – COVID-19 (PDF)
  • USA Mental Health First Aid — Compilation of tips from the Mental Health First Aid curriculum to help you care for your own and your loved one’s mental health.
  • Supporting Families During COVID-19 — Child Mind Institute
 

Professional Societies

Undergraduate Scholarships and Funding

Undergraduate Research Funding

Graduate and Postdoc Trainees

Faculty and Staff

 
  • Office of Institutional Equity — Reporting sexual harassment (including sexual violence or sexual exploitation), relationship violence, or stalking
  • Center for Advocacy, Response and Education (CARE) — provides confidential options and resources related to sexual harassment (including sexual violence or sexual exploitation), relationship violence, or stalking, is available through CARE website and by calling 765-495-2273 any time of the day or night.
 

All Students

  • Office of the Dean or Students (ODOS) — ODOS provides resources and support for students Center for Advocacy, Response and Education, Counseling and Psychological Services, Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life, Off-Campus Housing, Parent & Family Connections, Student Health Services, Student Legal Services, and Student Rights and Responsibilities. These include helping students with withdrawals after drop/add deadline or if they are planning on withdrawing from registering from classes for an extended period of time. If student is struggling even after accommodations from the Disability Resource Center, ODOS can provide a student support specialist.
  • Disability Resource Center (DRC) — Students can set up accommodations with DRC before or during the semester. A DRC support specialist is assigned to each student and will discuss the student’s specific needs/ advice regarding courses and research.
  • Student of concern report can be used by faculty, staff, graduate assistances and others to send information to the Office of the Dean of students to aid a struggling student.
  • Purdue University Student Health (PUSH)

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students and Postdocs

 
  • ACE Campus Food Pantry is open to all faculty, students and staff with a Purdue ID
  • Emergency loans are available through Student Support Services for financial assistance
  • QPR Suicide Prevention training — a 2-hour free training for faculty, students, and staff to learn how to recognize the warning signs for suicide and assist those in need

On-campus Life

 

Guides and More from Purdue

Watch, read and listen - External resources

B-Xcellent Podcast

This show discusses the journey of various black professionals to give insight to young black individuals seeking academic success. Episode 1 interviews Monique Mcclain, AAE assistant professor by courtesy of mechanical engineering.

Charles Bolden, NASA's first Black administrator, speaks out on systemic racism - Space.com

"The systemic problem with racism in the United States is not something that started this year or last year or 10 years ago ... This is what our nation was founded on."​

A Rocket Launch Can't Unite Us Until the Space World Acknowledges our Divisions - The Verge

Black voices within the aerospace community explain what it’s like to be in the space world during a time when the nation is focused on injustice and systemic racism.

An Aerospace Industry Town Hall on Race in America - Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals

This series of Courageous Conversations attempts to address these issues head-on, and begin to develop short- and longer-term solutions to eliminating racial injustice within the aerospace industry and in the communities where we live and work. Through ideas, questions, and thoughts, we join forces to create change.​

The Path is the Same, But the Journey is Different - Purdue Lyles School of Civil Engineering​

Dr. Mamon Powers, Jr. (Purdue BSCE '70 and HDR '14) delivered this keynote lecture as part of our First Step event on February 26, 2019. This event honored the legacy and significance of David Robert Lewis (BSCE 1894), Purdue University's first black graduate.​

Project Implicit - Harvard University

A self test that might highlight implicit biases​.