Welcome from the Welcome from the Dean & CEE Team Dean & CEE Team

Dear Participant,

Welcome to the Rio Grande Valley and to our inaugural Equity in Engineering Summit, which is a key initiative of UTRGV’s Center for Equity in Engineering (CEE) sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The CEE goal is to increase the enrollment, retention, and advancement of Hispanics, particularly Latinas, in engineering by addressing the inequities along the engineering career continuum including the social/family, education, and professionalization systems.

The summit brings together key stakeholders in those systems, including K-12, higher education, professional organizations and societies, as well as industry/employers to share ideas and best practices for increasing the participation and success of Hispanics in Engineering careers starting, from the K-12 pipeline to college and through gainful employment. With students being at the heart of the CEE, we are excited to have many of our engineering students participate in the summit including a student research poster as well as a student Leadership Academy following the summit.

Broadening the participation of Hispanics in engineering is crucial for strengthening the engineering workforce and ensuring that the US maintains its global leadership and competitiveness in STEM. With Hispanics being the fastestgrowing minority population in the US, and as the nation’s second-largest Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), we are pleased to lead the way in the inclusion and professional preparation of Hispanics, especially Latinas, in engineering. Thanks to the generous support of NSF and to all our regional and national partners in this important effort.

Hope you all have safe travels, and enjoy the summit and stay on our beautiful South Padre Island.

Sincerely,