Engineering Identity Development of Latina and Latino Student Members of SHPE

Event Date: October 30, 2014
Speaker: Renata Revelo Alonso
Speaker Affiliation: Doctoral Candidate, Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, University of Illinois
Time: 3:30-4:20pm
Location: ARMS B071
This study seeks to address the issue of underrepresentation and success of Latina/o students in engineering by investigating on the engineering identity development of self-identified Latina/o undergraduate student members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the largest organization for Latinas/os in engineering.

This study addresses the following research question: In what ways and to what extent does membership in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers influence the engineering identity development of Latina and Latino students? Understanding the ways that pre-professional organizations influence the development of students’ engineering identities can address their role in a student’s identification as an engineer.

Bio:

Renata Revelo Alonso is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her work focuses on issues of student identity, engagement, mentoring, and retention with a focus on underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities and women in engineering. Renata earned her B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois.