By Bryce E. Hughes, Ph.D. Like many of our students, I grappled with several complex academic challenges while navigating my pathway through an undergraduate engineering program. On top of these challenges, I was also grappling with the intricacies of coming out as gay in an environment not always embracing of diverse identities—a Catholic university. While

Co-authors (alphabetical): Kavitha Chintam, Jennifer Cole, Meagan Olsen, and Alexis Prybutok Creation of the Contextualizing Your Research Workshop catalyzed DEI efforts and engagement in our department. The summer of 2020 was a reckoning for many as the visibility of the Black Lives Matter movement intensified and the COVID-19 pandemic further exposed systemic injustices and inequities.

The Mental Health and Wellness Virtual Community (MHW-VC) began as a small group of faculty that grew organically. In 2022, we began advertising for the community monthly meets. The community quickly grew, and it is now a diverse group of over 120 faculty, staff, students, and industry employees from over 70 organizations in multiple countries.

Dr. Christopher Hernandez Dr. Hernandez is a Professor in the Departments of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. Previously Dr. Hernandez served as Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University and Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Hernandez is a Fellow of the American Institute for

Ivonne Santiago Dr. Ivonne Santiago is an Associate Professor in the Civil Engineering (CE) Department at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Dr. Santiago has a combined experience of over 25 years in the areas of water quality, water treatment and wastewater treatment in Puerto Rico (PR), New Mexico and Texas. Dr. Santiago

Rachelle Reisberg We want to thank Dr. Rachelle Reisberg for her dedication and commitment as a CDEI volunteer. She’s been an active member and valued leader, championing our conference planning efforts for several years. After her professional role recently changed, she decided to roll off the commission, and her tremendous leadership will be sorely missed.

After a great deal of deliberation, the evaluation committee for the Best DEI Paper for the 2023 ASEE Conference determined that the paper nominated by the Chemical Engineering division, “Designing and Implementing a Workshop on the Intersection between Social Justice and Engineering,” by K. Chintam, A. Prybutok, and colleagues at Northwestern University inched above the rest as a clear, adaptable model for action and potential impact by ASEE colleagues.

Note: This blog post was written before the recent Supreme Court rulings striking down Affirmative Action. While I don’t comment on these rulings directly, the discussion of merit and meritocracy in this blog post intersects with the broader discourse surrounding these rulings. When I was in high school, grade point average (GPA) and standardized tests

Join the #BeACatalyst Movement! Conference Catalysts facilitate belonging, elevate marginalized voices, empower emerging leaders/scholars, launch new collaborations, and expand networks. Will you #BeACatalyst during the American Society for Engineering Education annual conference? How to #BeACatalyst Connect (in-real time) newer conference attendees, members, and burgeoning scholars to someone relevant to their professional interests. Elevate someone else’s

Dr. Christopher Carr Dr. Christopher Carr, Ed.D. is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Outreach, and Inclusive Learning in the College of Engineering and Computing at George Mason University. Dr. Carr is a leadership and policy wonk in the areas of diversity, education, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). His unwavering support in the work