Ask not what your SHPE familia can do for you – ask what you can do for your SHPE familia! Join the leadership team and make an impact at the highest levels of the organization. Your resume will thank you too!
Seize the Moment
If you want to be in a position that cultivates leadership skills, encourages ownership, and presents invaluable networking opportunities, now is your chance to take a leadership role at SHPE.
Every spring, SHPE holds a nationwide election to determine the new, volunteer members of the National Board of Directors (NBOD) and the regional leadership. The NBOD creates the vision and manages the organization’s strategy while the regional leadership supports staff with operations like guiding the chapters. Do not hesitate to become a candidate in this year’s elections!
Opportunities
The NBOD has three professional positions that are filled via election. Professional positions are staggered in the following pattern, to preserve continuity.
In odd-numbered years (2021, 2023, etc.), the following positions open for office:
- Two National Board Of Directors members
- Regional Vice Presidents for Regions 1, 3, 5, and 7
In even-numbered years (2020, 2022, etc), the following positions open for office:
- One National Board Of Directors member
- Regional Vice Presidents for Regions 2, 4, and 6
The above professional positions have two-year terms which begin on July 1st.
Every year, three student members are elected to the NBOD:
- Two National Board of Directors members – Undergraduate
- One National Board of Directors members – Graduate
Every year, fourteen student positions are open at a regional level:
- Seven Regional Graduate Representatives
- Seven Regional Student Representatives
The above student positions have one-year terms which begin on July 1st.
The sole purpose of the regional leadership is to support, at the local level, the operationalization of SHPE’s mission and purpose. Each region’s leadership shall be made up of, at a minimum, the following four positions. Any additional positions are at the discretion of the Regional Vice President.
The Regional Leadership Team provides proactive leadership coaching to chapters and membership including SHPE leadership. Coaching, mentoring, and support are essential to maintaining and growing healthy chapters and members.
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS (RVP)
- Represent the professional membership and lead the regional team for their respective region
- Communicate business to the region’s professional chapters and communicate business from them to the regional team and the member representative to the SHPE staff
REGIONAL GRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE (RGR)
- Represent the region’s graduate student membership
- Communicate business to the regional student chapters and communicate business from them to the student assembly and regional team
REGIONAL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE (RSR)
- Represent the region’s undergraduate student membership
- Communicate business to the regional student chapters and communicate business from them to the student assembly and regional team
REGIONAL JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE (RJR)
- Be a STEM professional or educator and will represent the junior membership within a region
- Communicate business to the junior chapter advisors
- Work with the Regional team and communicate with the Regional Vice President
Nominee Checklist
Professional Nominees
- Hi-res professional photo (.jpg or .png)
- Biography (300-word count limit)
- Nomination petition with 5 professional member signatures
- NOTE: Membership ID from members residing in the region are required for regional positions.
- Candidate Acknowledgement Agreement
Graduate Student Nominees
- Hi-res professional photo (.jpg or .png)
- Biography (300-word count limit)
- Nomination petition with 5 graduate student member signatures
- NOTE: Membership ID from members residing in the region are required for regional positions.
- Transcripts (official or unofficial) with a 3.25 GPA minimum
- Candidate Acknowledgement Agreement
Undergraduate Student Nominees
- Hi-res professional photo (.jpg or .png)
- Biography (300-word count limit)
- Nomination petition with 5 undergraduate student member signatures
- NOTE: Membership ID from members residing in the region are required for regional positions.
- Transcripts (official or unofficial) with a 3.0 GPA minimum
- Candidate Acknowledgement Agreement
Nominee Eligibility
To vote you must be a current member by February 15. And to be eligible for an elected position you must be a current member by March 15. So renew now if your membership is expired or set to expire on or before May 15
Whatever member category you are (ex. student, graduate, professional) on February 15 determines the positions you’re eligible for and the voting rights you have. If your status has changed since you joined, please be sure to make that update when you renew. Or you can email [email protected] to assign the correct member category.
Lifetime Members
If you’re a lifetime member and your membership category has changed (ex. student to graduate, graduate to professional, or student to professional), please email [email protected] before February 15 to update your profile and associated voting privileges.
Professional Nominees
- Must be a professional member in good standing by February 15
- For regional positions, must have resided in the region for the last 6 months
- Must have a Bachelor’s degree and 6 months of full-time work experience, OR graduate studies prior to start of term
Graduate Nominees
- Must be a graduate member in good standing by February 15
- Must have a 3.25/4.0 GPA
- Must have at least 1 more fall + spring semester before graduation
- For regional positions, must be enrolled at a university within the region
- Graduating undergraduate members wishing to run for a Graduate position are conditionally eligible to run. Evidence of graduate student standing shall be provided prior to start of term
Undergraduate Nominees
- Must be an undergraduate member in good standing by February 15
- Must have a 3.0/4.0 GPA
- Must have at least 1 more fall + spring semester before graduation
- For regional positions, must be enrolled at a university within the region
Elections Timeline
February 15: The membership payment is due to be eligible to nominate, vote or run for office.
March 15: Nominations submittal deadline at 11:59 pm PDT
April 5: Candidates may begin campaigning
April 10: Ballots go out and voting begins at 12:01 am PDT
April 30: Voting concludes at 12:01 am PDT
May 16: Election Results Announced
Election Resources
2024 Candidates
National Board of Directors: Professional
Mario Villacourt was born in El Salvador and was raised by a single parent. He grew up in New York City and finished high school in three years. He started engineering at a community college in the Bronx and later transferred to Syracuse University. He received an academic scholarship from NSBE while at Syracuse.
Mario is the Director of Test Engineering at Intel Corporation responsible for the development of test systems of integrated circuit chips. He directs the development of over 100 geo-dispersed engineers and scientists globally.
Mario has championed several cultural transformations in support of One Intel and has been a staunch ally and mentor of employee resource groups: Intel Latinx Network (ILN), Women at Intel, Network of Intel African Ancestry. He has served as the cross-site chair for ILN globally, ILN AZ president, and later as the program manager for the Intel Latinx Leadership Council External Partnerships and Board Readiness programs. He has participated as judge for The National GEM Consortium, recruited at college fairs, SHPE and Society of Women Engineers national conventions. He has volunteered in delivering career development workshops to college students and professionals at Universities in AZ/FL/CA/TX, and at SHPE NILA, RLDC, and National Conventions. He has championed several diversity and inclusion efforts and was a featured panelist at the 2023 EmERGe conference. He was the first president for the corporate SHPE Intel Professional chapter in 2020-21.
Mario has a BSEE from Syracuse University and is a graduate of HITEC’s (Hispanic Technology Executive Council) Emerging Executive Program. He resides in Phoenix, AZ, and has lived in China, The Philippines, Malaysia, Central America. He has been an active SHPE Lifetime member for over 23 years. He is an avid SCUBA diver and enjoys learning about different cultures.
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Mindy Farrell is a lifetime SHPE member that recently joined Sandia National Labs as an Electrical Engineer. She is from the Southwest but spent time on the East Coast earning her degree from Penn State. She has over 10 years of engineering experience with an emphasis on defense and nuclear programs. She has a track record of managing and successfully scaling capital expenditure projects up to $20 million per year. In addition to her technical and management roles, Mindy has been a strong SHPE advocate for 15 years.
Currently the SHPE New Mexico Professional chapter president- in her second term, Mindy has a substantial history of supporting SHPE. She has re-established 2 professional chapters (Colorado and New Mexico), supported multiple Regional Leadership Development Conferences, elected as a SHPE chapter leader for 7 years, served a term as the Region 3 Vice President, and volunteered on the 2023 SHPE National Convention committee. She has continuously helped multiple chapters grow membership by over 60% and increased funding streams and budgets. The tremendous success and growth would not be without the support and dedication of the teams she has worked with. On the teams she has worked with, she brings an ability to inspire while also building foundational processes that can grow and evolve during leadership transitions.
While at work Mindy has supported and managed technical teams through design and production, her passion has been empowering her community through SHPE. She believes in creating a strategic vision and foundation to grow organizations. Life isn’t all work and SHPE; she greatly enjoys her family and friendships. She loves playing games with her husband and sons. With an affinity for nature, can often be found camping or biking.
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Natalie Davila-Rendon is a Systems Engineer Sr. Staff at Lockheed Martin – Space. She has a technical background in Electrical and Systems Engineering with a wide range of experience in the engineering field which includes test equipment, operations, sustainment and systems engineering.
She has a diverse cultural background with her family being from Colombia and Puerto Rico. She brings to the table a different perspective of the world, enjoys dancing, travel and working with a diverse team.
Her interest in professional development led her to volunteer in several leadership positions for professional organizations. Those organizations include Toastmasters, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). She is also a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
She volunteered for SHPE in different roles including student chapter President at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, professional chapter President of the SHPE Southern Arizona Professional Chapter and 2021 National Convention committee as the Professionals in STEM Co-Chair. She is currently a SHPE lifetime member and a SHPE Board of Directors Member. During her term on the Board of Directors from 2022 – 2024 she has served in the Audit, Finance and the Investment committees. She has engaged with IPC members and SHPE members all around the country.
She is running for a second term as Board of Directors member to advocate for Students and Professionals members by driving the strategy of the future of SHPE.
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National Board of Directors: Graduate
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Erik is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia institute of Technology. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University (‘21).
As an undergraduate at BYU, Erik was inspired by the slogan “Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve” to focus his engineering career on renewable energy. This led Erik to pursue a Ph.D. where his goal is to become an expert in thermal science and engineering to contribute to climate change-focused research by using innovative technologies that decarbonize energy. As a graduate student, Erik has received accolades such as the Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP) from NSF, along with the Presidential and Goizueta Fellowship from Georgia Tech. During his freshman year, Erik discovered a community with like-minded individuals who shared his cultural heritage, educational goals and professional aspirations within his local university’s SHPE chapter. With a membership spanning over six years, Erik has actively contributed to his familia in various capacities including chapter president and regional representative, and presently holds the position of co-lead for the National Graduate Committee.
Erik’s decision to run for the SHPE National Board of Directors is fueled by his desire to give back and reciprocate the love and support he has received from this community. In this role, Erik aims to inspire and offer guidance to individuals navigating the graduate school application process. He is committed to ensuring that current graduate students not only thrive in their current academic endeavors but also have the resources to achieve their professional aspirations. Erik intends to pursue these objectives through both individual initiatives and collaborative efforts with SHPE National, with a focus on implementing impactful programs for both prospective and current graduate students.
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Science captures the mystical melody of the universe with its musical notes written in mathematical equations. My name is Matteo Sanchez-Dahl Gonzalez. I’m pursuing a master’s degree in Computational Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to explore new frontiers of knowledge and fulfill my childhood desire to expand my imagination. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I will change the narrative about people from minority backgrounds succeeding in science by pursuing physician-scientist training and a career in service of my community to empower patients from all walks of life. During my undergraduate studies at The George Washington University, I became increasingly involved in SHPE. I served in various capacities, including as President of the university chapter and, most recently, as an Undergraduate Representative on the National Board of Directors in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
As a GEM Associate Fellow at CMU, I’ve had the opportunity to explore my intellectual curiosities and engage in impactful service with local community partners. Collaborating with a nationwide network of graduate students on the National Graduate and R4 Graduate Leadership Committees, I’ve helped lead panel discussions and organize SHPEReads events to ensure SHPE graduate students maximize success in their personal, professional, and educational pursuits. Serving as the Graduate Chair of SHPE CMU and District 3 Director of Tau Beta Pi has enabled me to participate in alumni panels and host outreach presentations on avenues and funding sources prospective graduate students can leverage to pursue postgraduate degrees in STEM.
Employing empathy to connect with new perspectives is part of the essence of scientific exploration, and I aim to leverage my leadership and engineering expertise to support multi-sectoral initiatives tackling large-scale societal problems and disparities. Working together, we can pave the path to a more sustainable and equitable future by employing universal design principles to find innovative solutions.
National Board of Directors: Undergraduate
Hi! I’m Giselle Martinez, a fourth year Civil Engineering major at the University of California, Merced. As a first-generation Latina, attending the youngest University of California campus and pioneering the newest major at UC Merced, SHPE has served as a platform for me to progress my academic and career goals. Starting my higher education during the pandemic posed a lot of obstacles. The college workload was overwhelming to say the least. When joining SHPE, I found a community of bright individuals who had the same ambitious career and life goals. I have served on my chapters board as the Manito’s Director, where I raised over $1,200 for the program. As the Director, I was passionate about upholding the Familia values, where new members could feel welcomed and supported. I have worked vigorously to ensure that our culture continues to grow and is passed down through every incoming class of diligent Latinos in STEM. Through my experiences and knowledge, I try to share my wealth and wisdom with all of my Familia. As I wrap up my final few semesters as an undergraduate, I would love to be able to reflect the UC Merced SHPE Familia culture to the rest of our national chapters.
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Hello y’all! My name is Jorge Moreno-Acosta, and I am a fourth-year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Texas at Austin. I’ve lived in a few places, including Mexico, but I consider San Antonio my hometown. I am a proud first-generation Mexican-American student who has navigated and learned from the challenges accompanying college and the start of my professional career. As the only one in my family to have decided to pursue higher education, it was difficult to know what I wanted to do after high school without the proper guidance. Nevertheless, with the love and support of my family and friends, I’ve made since high school and throughout college, I grew and learned from myself, and all thanks to those around me who have given me hope in shared experiences and showed me new paths with new experiences, the future seems a bit clearer.
I would consider myself an ambitious and charismatic person who loves to learn from others’ ideas and experiences. Despite the rough start in college during COVID, I have been an active member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) student organization since 2020 and once was the UT-SHPE Leadership Director where I led recruitment initiatives and oversaw the mentorship program. I have also attended three national and one regional SHPE conferences throughout college. In addition, I have worked for my university’s Engineering Student Services by providing guidance as a student advisor and had the great opportunity to intern with Dow Chemical, Bank of America, and this upcoming summer with Accenture.
Based on all my experiences, I have found my passion to revolve around people, specifically helping others who need that extra support. SHPE has helped me find a community of all who share that same goal and day by day make the change that will pave the path for the future of STEM.
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Region 1
Open to write-ins.
Open to write-ins.
Region 2
Marlyn Diaz is a first-generation, Latina Space Vehicle Engineer at The Aerospace Corporation. She attended community college, graduated from Cal Poly Pomona and recently completed her Master’s in Aerospace Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Serving as the SHPE Orange County-Inland Empire Professional Chapter President and the 2024 Speaker Coordinator for the International Latina Engineer Week (ILEW) Conference, she has used her platform to share her devotion to STEM and diversity inclusion efforts with everyone. Marlyn joined SHPE and saw a welcoming environment that allowed its members to grow, make mistakes, and flourish and continues to create that safe space for the community. Since joining, she has been heavily involved as a Professional helping merge the Orange County and Inland Empire Professional Chapters and participated in events throughout Region 2.
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It’s my honor to campaign this year for SHPE’s Regional Vice-President (RVP) for Region 2. Over the years, I have held various leadership positions, including student chapter president, regional student leader, and two years on the SHPE National Board of Directors as the Vice and National Student Representative. Most recently, I’ve served on the National Conference Planning committee as a volunteer, and it would be my pleasure to address the needs of the region as next year’s RVP for Region 2.
As a sixth-generation Arizonian and an ASU alum with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering, I’m deeply rooted in my Arizona heritage. My wife Josefina, originally from Guatemala, is also an ASU alum, and our four children are the center of our world. We enjoy spending quality time together, whether it’s watching movies, attending live sporting events, or simply being present with one another.
As a Presales Engineer, I have nearly two decades of experience supporting Dell EMC technologies in both pre and post-sales capacities. I’ve held roles at leading resellers, including starting one of my own.
If elected, it would be my honor to put this experience to work as the SHPE RVP for Region 2. My focus would be on increasing both student and professional membership while addressing other needs of the region in an innovative way. Viva Region 2.
My name is Maria Belen Rodriguez. I’m currently a second-year Industrial Engineering student at Pasadena City College. I am transferring to a four-year university in Region 2 this Fall 2024. My passion lies in subjects such as data science, mathematics, and environmental sustainability, and I aspire to pursue graduate school someday. Beyond academics, I thrive on outdoor adventures such as hiking, snowboarding, and traveling whenever I can. Being born and raised in Los Angeles, California I’ve always appreciated the beauty of cultural diversity and the strength it brings to our communities, which is closely connected to my Salvadorian and Guatemalan roots.
As the Vice President of the Pasadena City College chapter, I faced challenges in laying a foundation, but the progress has been rewarding. Over the past year, SHPE has been an important component of my journey, providing opportunities to connect, learn, and grow within a supportive familial atmosphere.
Outside of SHPE, I actively contribute to my community by teaching students to code and helping with organizations such as School on Wheels and GMis(Great Minds in STEM). I’ve experienced firsthand the impact education and mentorship can have on students.
As a first-generation college student, I understand the challenges of navigating the educational system and finding opportunities. This insight motivates me to pursue the position of Regional Student Representative, where I hope to inspire and assist chapters across Region 2, ensuring that every student has access to the resources they require to accomplish their goals.
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Open to write-ins.
Region 3
My name is Eliseo Barreno, and I have always been intrigued by automobiles and airplanes. Growing up, I was curious about how they worked, and as I progressed through high school, my fascination grew into a passion for engineering. During high school, I enrolled in the Washburn Institute of Technology, where I learned the skills required to become an automotive service technician. This experience cemented my love for engineering and helped me realize I wanted to pursue a career in the field.
During my senior year of high school, I became worried about the financial burden of college. However, my hard work paid off when I graduated as valedictorian of my class and was selected as a recipient of the Rudd Foundation scholarship. This scholarship gave me the opportunity to attend Wichita State University. Since then, I have been studying Mechanical Engineering and working hard to apply my skills and knowledge to real-world challenges. As a junior in college, I am excited about what the future holds and am eager to continue my education.
Aside from my academic pursuits, I am actively involved in several extracurricular activities at Wichita State University. One organization that I am particularly proud to be a part of is the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). SHPE has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for engineering. I was honored to be selected as a regional student representative for region 3 for the 2023-2024 term which has been a rewarding leadership experience. I have recently studied and interned abroad in Madrid, Spain this last summer and I was able to apply my knowledge to automotive engineering projects. This was amazing because I got to experience a new culture and even got the opportunity to watch my favorite soccer team.
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Hello, my name is Ezekiel Jaramillo. I am currently in my third year studying computer science at the University Of Utah. I originally come from a rural farm town in New Mexico. I grew up on a ranch surrounded by farm animals and farm land. I decided to venture outside my bubble and move to Utah for college. When I first came here I didn’t know a single person and now Utah feels like my second home. I became apart of the SHPE here at school in July 2023 and since joining I have been extremely involved. I just got elected president of my chapter and I could not be more excited to serve this chapter and be apart of SHPE. I attended convention this past year and I secured an internship with Lockheed Martin! This summer I will be working on the space team and I couldn’t be more thankful for SHPE national chapter and my local chapter for making this possible. I look forward to the opportunity of serving SHPE national and helping more kids get their first internship at convention!
Open to write-ins.
Region 4
Anthony Jara is a native New Yorker growing up in the immigrant neighborhood of Washington Heights. Growing up in a city where the sky is the limit and of constant change, he became interested in Civil Engineering as a career. While studying for his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, he learned that what engineers mainly do for society is solve problems.
As an undergraduate student, Anthony was also a member of several engineering & professional organizations such as the ASCE & NSPE. Anthony not only took on a leadership role on his chapter’s executive board, but also later on become both Regional Student Representative and also on the NBOD.
Upon graduation from Manhattan College, Anthony then joined the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) through their internship program and became a Project Engineer. Through his role as a Project Engineer, he has worked with community members and government agencies at the federal, state and local level in delivering a good quality project. While being a part of the SHPE Familia, Anthony has believed in the concept of good customer service and enhancing the greater SHPE network. Good customer service comes from listening to the needs of those who you work for and partner with as well as communicating effectively. Anthony believes the Region 4 Familia has the capacity to lead the organization to its next evolution of providing for the needs for its members at both undergraduate, graduate and professional levels. This belief comes from working with SHPE chapters and other affinity organizations in enhancing the network which greater meets the SHPE Familia mission. Anthony intends to provide avenues for the Region 4 organization to enhance its greatest abilities but to also allow outside-the-box ideas to provide for the needs of its members.
My name is Nazirah, and I am a second-year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia. My journey in advocating for underrepresented groups in STEM, particularly Hispanic students like myself, began during my undergraduate career in which I was deeply involved in various initiatives aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion in engineering.
I worked at the Center for Diversity in Engineering, gaining valuable experience in supporting underrepresented students. I have worked in the chapter, regional and national level for SHPE. During my undergraduate career I was on the Executive Board for the UVA SHPE chapter as external Vice-President, held a regional position as Regional Marketing Director, Mid-Atlantic sub-RSR, and I contributed to planning committees for RLDC4&6.
In the past two academic years, I have been an active member of the Regional Graduate Leadership Committee 4 (RGLC4), the National Graduate Committee (NGC), and have helped in the planning of the graduate track for the 2023 national convention. My experiences have highlighted the unique challenges faced by graduate students, particularly the need for tailored support systems.
Building upon the impactful work of past RGRs, such as the creation of RGLC4 and community-building events, I aim to expand our reach and strengthen connections across Region 4 and beyond. My vision includes advocating for SHPE chapters in institutions lacking representation, facilitating networking opportunities, and organizing informative sessions on topics like maintaining healthy advisor relationships and peer reviews for research papers.
Additionally, I intend to incorporate celebrations like Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month into our region’s calendar, recognizing the importance of honoring diversity. Through collaborative efforts and a shared commitment to inclusivity, I believe we can continue to make a meaningful impact. Thank you for considering my candidacy.
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Open to write-ins.
Region 5
Open to write-ins.
Open to write-ins.
Region 6
Fernando Diaz is an experienced and highly accomplished senior operations, continuous improvement, and supply chain executive with comprehensive global and domestic expertise in process optimization, production management, commercialization services, product development, logistics/supply chain, and staff coaching. Some of Fernando’s past professional work experience includes Vice President, Supply Chain Optimization with US Foods, Director, Process Team with OSI Group, Plant Manager, Rapid Results Leader, and Senior Continuous Improvement Manager with Treehouse Foods.
Fernando has been a SHPE member since 1995 either as a student or professional. Fernando holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Detroit Mercy and a M.S. in General Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Fernando has volunteered to advance the SHPE’s Mission is many capacities, these are just a few:
- University of Detroit-Mercy SHPE Chapter President
- Region 6 Regional Student Representative
- National Student Role Mode of the Year (award)
- National Graduate Student Committee Chair
- National Catalyst Committee Chair
- Chair of the First Region 6 Regional Technical Conference – Midwest Expo (2002)
- Chicago Professional Chapter Vice President
- National Conference/Convention Student Competition Chair
- National Conference/Convention Registration Chair
- National Conference/Convention Co-Chair (Indianapolis, IN)
- National Conference/Convention Co-Chair (Detroit, MI)
Fernando’s passion for SHPE’s mission began when he attended the SHPE National Conference in 1996 in Seattle, Washington. There, he was inspired by a sea of beautiful Hispanic Engineers that look like him and had the same passion for creating more opportunities for underrepresented minority communities getting into the STEM Field and the advancement of Hispanics in Professional Development in the areas of Academia, Government and Corporate America.
Starting my journey at community college was not easy, but I refused to give up on my dreams. Purdue University Northwest was a turning point for me, and the resources there helped me persevere. I got involved with SHPE and it fueled my passion to not only finish school but to land my dream job. That dream came true in the fall of 2021 when I received an offer from General Motors that brought me to tears.
As 2022 RLDC 6 CO-Chair and President of SHPE PNW with Mateo Garcia as VP, we impacted countless lives, creating job opportunities and lifelong friendships. It’s incredible to see the impact that SHPE has had, and I’m grateful to be a part of it. My goal now is to inspire others to achieve the same feeling.
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Yesenia Avellaneda was born in Lima, Peru, and immigrated to the US at the age of 13. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Human Physiology from the University of Oregon. After three years working in neurobiology research and public health, she decided to pursue engineering and obtained her Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Portland in December of 2021.
During her time at the University of Portland, Yesenia joined the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and quickly became involved, serving as the Professional Chair of the student chapter. She was also part of the Region 1 Graduate Representative Committee during her time in graduate school. Yesenia credits SHPE for helping her land her first job at the SHPE National Conference in Orlando in 2021. More importantly, SHPE provided her with a sense of belonging, an extensive network, and the knowledge that wherever she goes, she will have the support of SHPE members.
In 2022, Yesenia moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, after securing a full-time role at Abbott as a Technical Production Supervisor. Eager to immerse herself in the Midwest’s culture and community, she joined SHPE. In 2023, she was elected as the SHPE Twin Cities President and is currently leading efforts to revitalize the SHPE TC chapter after the pandemic. Yesenia strongly believes in representation and hopes to foster an environment where Latinx individuals can see themselves as the future of tomorrow.
In her free time, Yesenia enjoys public speaking, traveling, learning about new cultures, and has a passion for sports.
My name is Amina Estrella Torres. I am currently a junior at Central Michigan University studying environmental engineering. I am very passionate about the environment and finding new ways to help preserve it. I am also quite involved on campus with the other Hispanic clubs and with our Center of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a Multicultural Advancement Scholar. I am also involved in the engineering department by helping with recruiting efforts.
I am extremely passionate about SHPE! I have been involved with SHPE since my freshman year of college and have been on the eboard for the last two years. I have been the treasurer and this year I am the president of my chapter. I’m very passionate when it comes to this organization because SHPE means so much to me and I aspire to be a great leader and have much success while doing so! SHPE has given me so much over the past three years. I was able to meet new friends, learn more about my major, reconnect with my culture, network with others, and have a place to feel safe and understood. I want to be able to bring more of that to campus across Region Six. SHPE is one of the elements in my life that makes me who I am today, but it’s not the only one.
My family is so important to me and has helped me get to where I am today. My parents are immigrants and growing up in Detroit, they did not get the best education, but they worked so hard to be able to send my sister and I to college and they are my biggest supports! They have instilled the values of hard work and kindness into me. My mom has always told me to “lift as you climb”, meaning as I grow and move on to new things, to not forget about the people who have helped me get there and make sure I keep them and others who are struggling in mind and help them when I can. This phrase is always in the back of my mind and I use the values that come with it to help me be a better leader and be able to serve others who may not be able to help themselves. I want to be able to move up in the SHPE world and use this position as a way to help chapters who are struggling and provide them with the necessary guidance.
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Katherine Zepeda-Romero is a Fifth-Year Mechanical Engineering student at the Ohio State University. Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Katherine now lives in Columbus, Ohio, and is the first-generation Salvadoran in her family to attend college. Looking for an on-campus community as a first-generation student, she joined SHPE to grow professionally, and academically, and foster a sense of belonging in a large university environment. It was through her involvement with SHPE during her first year that she discovered a sense of purpose beyond career development.
Immersing herself in SHPE’s vibrant community, Katherine embraced mentorship programs and assumed leadership roles by her second year. Katherine has served on the SHPE OSU Section’s executive board as Treasurer, Vice President, and her most recent position as President. Through her involvement, Katherine has had the opportunity to empower members, forge meaningful connections, and work on diversity and inclusion initiatives. During her term as President of the SHPE OSU Chapter, the chapter grew significantly and achieved many new milestones: sponsoring 20 students to attend the SHPE National Convention, gaining over 10 corporate sponsors, and increasing the membership attendance from 12 students to 40 students marking over 200% growth in attendance. With continued leadership and development, SHPE OSU continues to grow and impact the Hispanic community at Ohio State.
Katherine is eager to run for Region 6 Regional Student Representative with a vision centered on fostering unity and familial bonds across universities, professional chapters, and regional leadership. She aims to develop and fortify communication channels, advocate for constituent chapters, and engage with various university chapters. As the Regional Student Representative, Katherine believes she can make a positive impact and help Region 6 collegiate chapters grow both professionally and personally.
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Open to write-ins.
Region 7
My name is Kayla, and I’m a second-year PhD candidate at Duke University studying Civil and Environmental Engineering. As a first-generation college student, I initially doubted my abilities to pursue engineering. However, my perspective shifted when a Latino professor took the time to mentor me and introduce me to a club he was starting, SHPE, igniting a passion for advocacy and mentorship within our community.
During my undergraduate years, I served as President of our SHPE chapter, beyond SHPE I emphasized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) across various spheres including sports, engineering, and student life. Carrying this drive into graduate school, I established Duke’s graduate SHPE chapter and extended mentorship to high school and first-generation undergraduate students. SHPE has been instrumental in providing me with a supportive familia and resources, enabling me to navigate academia as a first-generation graduate student.
In the past year, I’ve actively participated in the Regional Graduate Leadership Council (RGLC) with SHPE, and I aspire to continue contributing as a Regional Graduate Representative (RGR). My focus is on enhancing existing undergraduate programs, expanding initiatives for graduate students, and providing robust support for first-generation college students. I aim to foster informative sessions, bolster networking opportunities, and reintroduce in-person events post-COVID, prioritizing the needs of underrepresented students.
By expanding access to information and resources I seek to eliminate barriers and empower individuals to navigate engineering confidently. I am committed to making a meaningful impact within our community, advocating for inclusivity and mentorship every step of the way. Thank you for considering my candidacy.
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Andrea Godoy is a junior studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela, moved to the United States at age nine, and is a first-generation college student. Andrea is interested in creating and working on new technologies that aid in the betterment of our health services and advocating for better STEM programs and opportunities for fellow Hispanic and women engineers.
Throughout her academic journey, Andrea has been fortunate enough to become immersed in SHPE culture, participating in and benefitting from various SHPE opportunities. Andrea is involved in leadership positions within her SHPE chapter, where she is Vice President of External Affairs. Andrea has been awarded a ScholarSHPE for the 2023 – 2024 academic year; she was selected to be a part of the InternSHPE program with Medtronic the summer after her sophomore year as a Research & Technology intern, also gaining a Medtronic mentor through the MentorSHPE program. Andrea has also passionately participated and volunteered within SHPE National at various lengths, including volunteering for the Equipando Padres Academy program and leading an Equipando Padres University Spanish-speaking session representing the University of Miami. At a local level, Andrea passionately leads her External Affairs team at her SHPE chapter, where she has successfully hosted information sessions with various industry leaders like Medtronic, where they highlighted their InternSHPE program, NextEra Energy, Florida Power & Light, Arthrex, and Kimley-Horn, connecting over 150 SHPE members to recruiters and professionals in various engineering disciplines.
Her experience and knowledge earned through SHPE opportunities and resources have allowed her the great honor of representing SHPE members at the White House for SHPE’s Policy Briefing on Building the Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders in STEM. She will also join the SHPE members participating in SHPE’s monumental Hill Day in Congress.