For decades, engineering has been a field dominated by white males; however, that reality is gradually changing. Here in Colorado, the University of Colorado Boulder boasts one of the highest percentages of female engineering students in the nation, at 41%, but Latinas account for only 6.7% of that. Lilian Garcia, a Latina engineer and CU alum, understands the importance of representation.
“This means a lot to me because I don’t fit the norm of what an engineer is,” Garcia said. “First, I am a woman. Secondly, I am Latina. I want other Latinas to look at my photo and see me as a role model. I want them to say, ‘Hey, she looks like me, so I can do that, too.”
At the Colorado School of Mines, first-generation engineering student Alondra Bahena-Reza, a Mexican American, is one of the trailblazers helping to reshape the field.
“It sounds stereotypical, but I was always trying to fix things and put them back together,” Bahena-Reza said. Her interest in engineering began when she attended the Summer Multicultural Engineering Training Program at Mines. “I’m first generation, so I didn’t know much about engineering in the U.S., but through my classes I’ve really gotten into it.”
Bahena-Reza chose mechanical engineering because of its versatility. “Mechanical engineering is very hands-on,” Bahena-Reza said. “You can code, work with hardware, and do so many different things. I really like it because it’s applicable to a lot of different areas.”
Her enthusiasm for the field has led to opportunities to design innovative devices during her internships, including an off-road wheelchair, an e-sim device and a plastic shredder to help reduce and recycle thermoplastics. Still, for Bahena-Reza, the journey hasn’t been without challenges.
“At first, it was hard,” Bahena-Reza said. “I definitely had imposter syndrome. I thought, ‘Am I smart enough for this? Am I capable?’ Most of my professors were not people of color and were not women. I think I’ve only had one engineering professor who was a woman. It was really cool to learn from her.”
While progress has been made in recruiting a more diverse student body, women account for only 19.6% of tenure/tenure-track faculty in US engineering colleges. Despite these hurdles, Bahena-Reza has thrived, in part because of the supportive community she found at the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at Mines. As president of SHPE, she has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of belonging among the group’s 200 members.
“SHPE is the biggest Hispanic community at Mines,” Bahena-Reza said. “It really helped me find my place and feel aligned culturally and socially. What I like about Mines is that it’s relatively small. They really push working in groups, so I was able to break out of my shyness.”
SHPE is not only a community at Mines but a national organization. They also have chapters at CU Boulder, Northwestern University, the University of Miami, the University of Oregon and more.
“It’s really inspiring to see Latina women in engineering across the coasts; it reminds me I’m not alone and I can do it,” Bahena-Reza said.
Bahena-Reza isn’t the only one in her family breaking barriers. Her younger sister, Abigail, now attends Mines as well, inspired by her sister’s journey. And the future looks bright for Bahena-Reza, who has already secured a post-graduate job in mechanical engineering at Daimler Trucks in Portland, Oregon.
“My mom always tells us, ‘ponte las pilas,’ which means ‘put your batteries on,’” Bahena-Reza said. “It means you’re putting on your batteries and you keep on working, and you keep on changing, and overcoming your hurdles. My parents are my biggest supporters and I carry those words with me.”
The numbers may still show a predominantly male and white field, but individuals like Bahena-Reza and Garcia are proving that change is not only possible but also inevitable.
“I can either leave or I could be part of the change,” Bahena-Reza said. “I chose to stay and help build the pathway for other Hispanic women and women of color.”