They were selected to participate in a four-day academic career workshop because of their academic merit and their interest in applying for faculty positions in the U.S. They include 17 Black Trailblazers in Engineering (BTE) and 17 Latinx Trailblazers in Engineering (LATinE) Fellows.

Trailblazers in Engineering are workshops to prepare future trailblazing faculty in engineering with a focus on preparing outstanding scholars who are also committed to increasing the success of underrepresented communities of engineers.

Trailblazers in Engineering Fellows are selected not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements but also for their potential impact in expanding representation and diversity in engineering. The virtual workshop, Oct. 19-22, will provide Fellows the ability to network with leading faculty in engineering, thought leaders, program managers at key federal funding agencies, Purdue Engineering heads, and of course, each other. Participants will also meet current Trailblazers and benefit from their inspiring keynote talks.

BTE is an initiative intended to increase the number and success of black engineering faculty in the US, who in turn, will blaze new trails with new discoveries, innovations and social impact and serve as role models for the next generation of engineers.

The goal of the LATinE program at Purdue Engineering is to prepare future trailblazing faculty in engineering with a focus on preparing outstanding scholars who are also committed to increasing the success of Latinx engineers.