Building Connections
Heidi Williams
Chief among the many benefits of a Santa Clara engineering education is the network of alumni/ae and affiliated Silicon Valley industry leaders who can help pave the way for our students and graduates. But tapping into that network can be daunting for someone fresh out of high school, or even for graduate students or alums—especially those traditionally underrepresented in engineering.
To foster a sense of community and strengthen our SCU network, the School of Engineering has started a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Speaker Series: Engineering Connections.
The idea for the series originated from the School’s Engineering Advisory Board (EAB). Last year, a working group within the EAB was established to address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in engineering. Comprised of faculty, alumni/ae, and staff, the group's work focuses on issues related to women and other underrepresented groups in engineering, from pre-college through graduation and entering the workforce.