SHPE - Spring 2009 - (Page 4)

PRESIDENT’S LETTER hen I began my service as president of SHPE six years ago, I saw it as a thrilling opportunity and, at the same time, an enormous personal challenge. Back then, I took comfort in maintaining the status quo, and my theory was that if it wasn’t broken, why fix it. Yet years later, I find myself the champion of change, looking for the next step in paving the way to a better future. Like most engineers, I think of myself as a problem solver all the way back to my childhood, when I naively built a bridge out of wood planks and poles over an irrigation canal … just to reach friends on the other side. That desire to reach people is perhaps what propelled me to grow into a leader who is still building bridges, but with people this time. The accomplishments made over the past six years strengthened a foundation that I am proud to have been a part of. There are so many strong advocates at SHPE. Notably, these include the AHETEMS Foundation and strategic partnerships with groups like the Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists, Society of Women Engineers, the Hispanic and United Negro College Funds, National Society of Black Engineers and the National GEM Consortium, to name a few. I am equally as proud of every new core program which upholds and represents our national presence. Back in 2003, there were 235 chapters, and now there are 306. SHPE Jr. chapters were nonexistent, whereas now there are 28. We’ve increased our Industrial PartnerSHPE Council members from 28 to 55 corporations and government agencies, and we’ve grown our scholarship funding from $200,000 to more than $1.5 million in five years. Upon my first election as President, I made a personal pledge to “listen to everyone,” and because of that I gained the goodwill of our stakeholders who entrusted me with this leadership role. Serving as President changed my life, making me a better person, better employee and better friend. I encourage all of our members to aspire to the next level − for high school students to become college students, college students to attain graduate degrees, professionals to become managers and managers to become CEO’s. I heartily recommend that running for president becomes one of every member’s goals. This may appear to be too lofty a challenge, but if you really want to make change, you have to be in the position to affect that change. Standing on the sidelines is not an option when true progress is made on the field. In my thousands of miles of travel on behalf of SHPE, I have had the honor of touching many lives who have touched mine in return. There have been my colleagues who served with me on the National Board of Directors, professional chapter leaders, students on university campuses, government officials at agencies like NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as parents who envisioned all the possibilities an education has to give to their children. Each and every contact was made with service in mind, first and foremost. I cannot stress enough the importance of an ongoing commitment to our communities, as it has never been more important to come together in a shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face. In President Obama’s recent inaugural address, he stated, “We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.” There has never been a better time for more resourceful ingenuity and a blending of science and technology. It is a good time for the Society to look toward the immediate future and prepare for whatever lies ahead once the recovery takes hold and the projects begin. My immediate future takes me to Sacramento, California, as Chief, Office of System Management at Caltrans Headquarters. I take with me the many well wishes of so many whom I've worked with as well as the confidence in the achievement and promise of our dedicated members. My experience as President of SHPE will never be forgotten and closes only one chapter in my continued involvement in furthering our cause. For all of us, endless opportunities await with worlds to conquer. I leave with all of you my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude and a simple wish: Que Dios los acompañe … on all your journeys through life. Diana Gomez President W 4 SHPE ❘ Spring 2009

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SHPE - Spring 2009

SHPE - Spring 2009 Contents President’s Letter A Letter from the CEO Calendar Browser Diana Gomez, SHPE: The People's President Grace Lieblein, GM: A Driving Force in Mexico Dr. Elsa Murano, Texas A&M: Education with Impact Regions Connect and Explore Common Base 'Learn by Doing' A Grad Degree, for Free? Programs & Services Think, Pair, Share: Partnering to Increase STEM Awareness Inner Circle Employer Profiles STAR Awards: Call for Nominations Regional Roundup

SHPE - Spring 2009

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