The program is part of Transforming Engineering Culture to Advance Inclusion and Diversity (TECAID), a program funded by the National Science Foundation and led by the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and Purdue. A co-principal investigator is Klod Kokini, associate dean for academic affairs and a professor of mechanical engineering.

Faculty teams from mechanical engineering departments at Purdue, Michigan Technological University, Oregon State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Oklahoma have been selected to collaborate on TECAID projects.

“The College of Engineering at Purdue is delighted to collaborate with WEPAN and ASME, building on a long tradition of innovation related to diversity and inclusion in engineering, to change the culture and climate in mechanical engineering departments across the U.S. and impact positively the education and diversity of many future engineers,” Kokini says.

TECAID will support efforts to attract and retain women and underrepresented minority students and faculty in mechanical engineering programs and departments, and to create and sustain inclusive interactions and cultures.

“In order to compete and succeed in the global economy, countries must better engage the engineering and scientific talent of diverse populations,” says Thomas Perry, director of engineering education at ASME. “Today, many thousands of gifted individuals, most notably women and underrepresented minorities, remain a disproportionally small fraction of those in engineering careers, while at the same time the opportunities and rewards of an engineering career have never been better.”

Diane Matt, WEPAN executive director, says, “WEPAN is excited to partner with ASME and Purdue on TECAID. Together, we’re leveraging ASME’s Vision 2030 advocacy strategy for advancing mechanical engineering education and their extensive network of ME department heads and faculty; WEPAN’s commitment to advancing inclusive culture in engineering; and Purdue’s longstanding commitment to inclusion and diversity.”

For more information about the project and how colleges of engineering will be benefit from the results as TECAID progresses can be found at http://www.wskc.org/tecaid