Women are underrepresented in the engineering profession and I’m thrilled UNF gave me an opportunity to participate in a student organization dedicated to changing that ratio.

When I arrive at UNF, I became aware of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and had the opportunity to meet its president. She invited me to attend one of their meetings. One meeting and one nomination later, I became the secretary for the section. The president mentored me throughout my college career and I cannot be more grateful for her generosity, as well as that of the other members.

When I became president of SWE, we worked hard not only to get more women enrolled in engineering programs but also work hard to retain them so they graduate. I also helped plan many outreach events in which we went into the K-12 schools to encourage more women to consider engineering.

Ironically, I did not start out wanting to be an engineer. I grew up in a military family and moved from place to place, country to country, every few years. I was a shy girl, and it was an experience in itself to learn how to adapt to a new environment. I drowned myself in coloring books, play dough, and puzzles. I was never really that great in math, nor was I in science, but I was definitely a curious and creative child. 

Because my family and I had moved many times, college was never something for which we were preparing. When my father finally retired in Jacksonville, I was accepted by UNF. I’m grateful for the scholarship from the First Coast Manufacturers and the UNF Blue and Gold Merit Scholarship for first-time-in-college students. If it wasn’t for these scholarships, I may have not been able to attend college.

When I got to UNF I took a general chemistry course that led me eventually to becoming chemistry major.  It was then that I had the opportunity to meet the SWE UNF president at the time. Still shy, she invited me to attend one of their meetings. One meeting, and one nomination later, I became the FY09 secretary for the section, changed my major to mechanical engineering, and never looked back. She had mentored me throughout my college career, and I can never be more grateful for her generosity as well as the generosity of the society’s members.

With the help of several professional development conferences, my confidence level soared. I was able to help my classmates and friends with their resumes, participate in mock interviews and prepare other students for the internship application process. My primary mission was to continue to mentor and guide future SWE leaders the way I had been mentored. 

The faculty in the College of Computing, Construction and Engineering also played a role. Because our department is so small, the professors were readily available to provide advice when needed. I feel the UNF experience has taught me how to think critically as an individual, to find my own path and reach my own goals. The faculty provides the right environment for that to happen by being supportive but giving students the independence to grow.

Since graduation, I've been accepted into a management training program at General Electric Aviation. It's a very selective program — only one other UNF alum has been accepted before me. And, considering there are only 50 graduates nationwide selected for the program, it reflects well on the quality of a UNF education. The hands-on experiences in engineering, the opportunity to work in inter-disciplinary teams and the close relationship with faculty were a part of a UNF education and the keys to my success.

Thank you, UNF.