Dayton Engineer
University of Dayton engineering students connected at SWE Conference
By Alexis Kemble '24, mechanical engineering
Last fall, students from the University of Dayton chapter of the Society of Women Engineers made their way to Indianapolis for We21, the world’s largest conference for female engineers.
For three days, the students networked with engineering professionals from around the country, listened to speakers in seminars ranging from being a minority in engineering to balancing work and home life, went to resume workshops, and attended a career fair.
At the career fair, students had the opportunity to connect with hundreds of employers including GE, Boeing, General Motors, Proctor and Gamble, Tesla, NASA, Whirlpool, Canon, and so many more. This career fair was an excellent way to see how vital women are to engineering through employers who truly value diversity and equity.
In the evening, the students reconnected with the employers through their hospitality suites. The employees and recruiters from the companies were present in the suites to engage in informal conversations about their experiences in engineering. The students also enjoyed raffles and refreshments sponsored by the employers — Thermo Fisher’s ice cream bar was the crowd favorite.
The conference was not all hard work; the students enjoyed fun experiences too. They went out to eat together on Friday night at Bucca di Beppo, and afterwards, at a local winery, they met alumni who work in the Indianapolis area or were in town for the conference. At this event, the students had an opportunity to network with engineering professionals who shared the same love for UD and the same pride in our School of Engineering.
Throughout this experience, students were able to build a stronger foundation of support of women in engineering and learn more about why their voice is so valued. The countless companies, speakers and alums showed a concrete image of what the future can look like as a female engineer and made evident the ways in which they have had the ability to impact the world. They taught us about why we should ‘aspire to inspire.’
The women engineers of the University of Dayton 'aspire to inspire' during Women's History Month and throughout the year!