SWE - Fall 2008 - (Page 56)

Opening the Gateways F DARREN PHILLIPS, NMSU COMMUNICATIONS rom Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the United States observes Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanics represent the fastest-growing ethnic minority in the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population grew by 3.3 percent, or 1.4 million, between July 1, 2006 and July 1, 2007. It was births, not immigration, that accounted for the increase. The second-fastest-growing segment, Asians, experienced a 2.9 percent population increase, followed by the black population, which grew by 1.3 percent. Like women and other minorities, however, Hispanics are conspicuously underrepresented in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions. According to the National Science Foundation, in 2004, Hispanics received a mere 7.3 percent of the total science and engineering degrees awarded in the United States. Steven Castillo, Ph.D., dean of engineering at New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M., has been working to improve the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented minorities in engineering programs. As a Hispanic-serving institution at which 44 percent of undergraduate students are Hispanic, NMSU has been an important producer of Hispanic engineers, but the university still faces challenges in changing attitudes and perceptions to increase the participation of women and other minorities at all levels in the engineering college. In the following interview, Dr. Castillo, who has been dean since 2004, shares some of his ideas about diversity in engineering with Lisa Frehill, Ph.D., executive director of the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology. Dr. Frehill is a frequent contributor to SWE Magazine and a former faculty member at NMSU, where she taught sociology and directed the National Science Foundation ADVANCE program. SWE: What are some ways to increase diversity in engineering? Would the same strategies used to increase women’s participation be effective in increasing minority participation? SC: Well, there are some important similarities between the two populations but some significant differences too. It is important to engage in careful outreach to both groups. But, while in many cases I have seen that women who are coming out of the high schools are similarly or even better prepared than men, the same is not the case for Hispanics and Native Americans, the two large ethnic groups in New Mexico. On aver- age, a larger percentage of Hispanics or Native Americans are coming to college underprepared in mathematics as indicated by their high school academic records or college board scores. SWE: So, let’s start with the issues for women in engineering. What are some strategies that you think are important in recruiting young women to engineering schools? SC: As I said, it is a matter of outreach by the engineering profession and engineering schools. The incredible story of the role that engineers play in making society a better place needs to be spoken clearly to young females, who have many options available to them. There need to be role models such as women faculty and successful women engineers who can speak to them, but the roles and contributions must be demonstrated in other ways too. For example, if you have a brochure, it’s really important to make sure that women are pictured. We need to overcome the “geek” stereotype. SWE: Nationally, we see that certain engineering disciplines tend to have more women. Is that the case here at NMSU too? SC: Yes. Women are better represented in chemical, industrial, environmental, and civil engineering here at NMSU. They seem to gravitate toward areas where it is clear that engineering can have a positive societal impact or has some aesthetic value. This past year, for example, I visited the introductory engineering classes in the college. The introduction to civil engineering class was one with a large female enrollment, and I asked how many were interested in architecture. I was surprised by the number of female students who expressed interest in architecture as their ultimate career goal. This really points out the need for the other areas of engineering, in particular mechanical and electrical engineering, to do a better job of showing young women the opportunities they would have in those disciplines to do what they want to do. SWE: Now, let’s take a moment to focus on the issues for ethnic minorities. As the demographics of the United States continue to change, the rest of the country may come to resemble New Mexico. What lessons have you learned here that might be useful for oth- 56 SWE FALL 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Fall 2008

SWE - Fall 2008 Heritage Club Contents Farewell Message from FY08 President Michelle Tortolani Congratulations SWE Magazine A Conversation with FY09 President Virginia Connolly, P.E. Introducing the FY09 Board of Directors View from the Executive Suite Editor's Page Public Policy Update SWE Retention Study, Part 6 Membership Information & Calendar A&B SWE Member Kristina Johnson First Woman to Receive John Fritz Medal University Labs Fuel a New Era in Energy Women Engineering Leaders in Academe 2008 Opening the Gateways to Engineering Your Collegiate Section History is Waiting to Be Discovered Honoring the Legacy of Ada Pressman, P.E. Report from WEPAN Engineering World Proposed Bylaws Amendments Point of View Correction Career Toolbox Corporate Partnership Council Book Review SWE Smiles In Memory Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook

SWE - Fall 2008

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