Purdue Graduate Engineering Honors SHPE's 50-Year Legacy of STEM Excellence
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) National Convention, held from October 30 to November 3, 2024, in Anaheim, California, saw strong representation from Purdue University's College of Engineering. Graduate students, faculty, and staff from Purdue's Graduate Engineering programs made significant contributions to this landmark event, which celebrated SHPE's 50th anniversary. SHPE is open to anyone interested in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM); members do not have to be Hispanic to join or experience the benefits of membership.
Purdue Graduate Engineering sponsored the Graduate Academic Track, along with additional universities, providing opportunities for conference attendees to learn more about the graduate school experience. Dr. Colleen L. Coulter, Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment, moderated the panel entitled, “Telling Your Research Story.” Dr. Andres F. Arrieta, Associate Professor in Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering, Marina Garcia Lopez-Arias, PhD student in Purdue’s School of Civil Engineering, served as co-panelists, along with Dr. Corey Baker, Assistant Professor in the University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engineering. Each panelist shared thoughtful insights regarding their educational and professional pathways. Dr. Coulter also presented a separate session on “Funding Your Graduate Degree.” In addition, Purdue Engineering Faculty, Dr. Carlos Martinez, Associate Professor in Purdue’s School of Materials Engineering and Dr. Andres F. Arrieta, Associate Professor in Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering, participated in Academic Partnership Council sessions and the Faculty Development Symposium, which covered topics such as, leadership, building research and teaching portfolios, mental health, mentoring, culturally responsive teaching, and networking.
The Purdue team played a crucial role in mentoring prospective graduate students. In addition to the faculty attendees, the Purdue delegation included: Yvonne Vega and Colleen Hepner from Online Programs, Tammy Siemers from Biomedical Engineering, , Colleen Coulter from Graduate Education, Rachel Clark and Shelley Foley from the Purdue Energetics Research Center, and graduate students including Laura Almeida Tinjaca from Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Jorge Cristancho-Rodriguez from Engineering Education, Emily Garcia from Industrial Engineering, Marina Garcia from Civil Engineering, Andres Gomez from Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Omar Morena-Flores from Mechanical Engineering, and Justin Emanuel Rosa-Rojas from Chemical Engineering. They shared valuable insights about graduate studies at Purdue and discussed potential summer research opportunities. They engaged with hundreds of prospective graduate engineering students at the SHPE National Convention events including the multi-day Career Fair and Graduate School Expo, the Advanced Degree Showcase, the Graduate Writing Room, the 3-Minute Grad Thesis Competition and the STEM Research Competition sponsored by the National Security Agency.
Participation in the SHPE National Convention has historically had a positive impact on Purdue's engineering students. In previous years, a significant percentage of Purdue attendees secured job or internship interviews, with many receiving offers directly at the event. The convention offers numerous networking opportunities, allowing Purdue's delegates to connect with industry leaders, fellow academics, and potential collaborators. These interactions are vital for fostering future partnerships and enhancing Purdue's reputation in Engineering throughout the world.
