Dayton Engineer

By Sarina Tacovic, University of Dayton Marketing and Communications

The University's Multi-Ethnic Engineers Program helps multi-ethnic students build community, collaborate and take on active roles to grow as aspiring engineering professionals.

“Engineering can be an intense discipline, that’s the reality of it,” said Gerica Brown, program director. “The difference in UD, which is demonstrated in our retention rates, is the support that students have of each other and the support they have on campus. They are encouraged to lean into the challenge as opposed to letting it go and are reassured that they’re not alone. They can grow, they can improve and they can learn.”

That's exactly what Nyah Johnson, a junior studying industrial engineering technology, has discovered. She has found community through MEP, both as a UD student and through the program as a high school student.

“I did the STEM summer bridge program and met Gerica,” Johnson said. “She knew that I wanted to join engineering so she invited me to the Multi-Ethnic Engineers Program meetings. That gave me an idea of what that experience would look like, and I loved it. I saw a lot of people who look like me going for the same goal, to graduate with a degree in engineering, and they were all there to help each other accomplish that goal no matter what.”

When Johnson was accepted to the school of engineering and the multi-ethnic engineers program during her sophomore year, her parents gave her a sweatshirt that says “Black engineers matter." The phrase resonates with her because that belief has been instilled throughout her experience in MEP and especially through Brown's mentorship. Johnson even bought a sweatshirt bearing the message as a gift of gratitude for Brown.

“The value that the students take away is not necessarily the programming, it’s building connections with each other,” Brown said. “This is important for every engineering student, but unfortunately when you are a minority student and don’t see anybody that looks like you, that can be very isolating. We create the structured opportunity for them to see other multi-ethnic engineering students and serve as each other's support systems.”

They receive support in other ways, too. Last year, 216 MEP students received scholarships funded by donor gifts through One Day, One Dayton, the University’s 24-hour giving day.

MEP fosters community and connection through mentor-mentee relationships in addition to offering social, academic and professional development events for the cohort. Being in these structured situations is how students build familiarity with each other so when and if things get challenging, those important relationships and support structures are already in place.

Johnson learned to lean on this support system.

“As an engineer you don’t want to seem like you don’t know what you’re doing, especially when others around you don’t seem to be struggling,” Johnson said. “It took a while to get comfortable asking for help. It was really hard, but Gerica and the other students helped me navigate tutoring and other resources available to me.”

These moments of challenge and support helped Johnson grow. Now as an ambassador and outreach coordinator for MEP, she is a leader and mentor to multi-ethnic students experiencing what she went through.

“Gerica and MEP have taught me so many things,” Johnson said. “The program helped develop me as a whole professional. I’ve gained a lot of confidence being a minority engineer. I know I am meant to be here.”

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