Although diversity in the engineering field has come a long way since Mary Jackson became NASA’s first African American female engineer and Lilia Ann Abron became the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in chemical engineering, there’s still work to be done to offset systemic discrimination that has held back underrepresented populations toward achieving the skillsets that they need to become engineers.
All over the U.S., underrepresented engineers are making an impact in such industries as automotive, energy and construction. To acknowledge their achievements, The University of Akron’s (UA) College of Engineering and Polymer Science launched a podcast series titled “Diverse Engineering” that features UA engineering alumni and leaders of color in Greater Akron and beyond and reinforces the importance of introducing diversity into innovation.
The podcasts are part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the College’s Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics (IDEAs) program, which supports the College’s effort to recruit underrepresented populations by providing opportunities for academic and professional growth.
“From the program’s first graduate in 1990 to now, the IDEAs program has become recognized for its preparation and production of high-quality, industry-ready diverse graduates,” says Heidi Cressman, director of diversity and inclusion in the College of Engineering and Polymer Science. “The stories featured in the podcast all are a part of the history of the program and a source of inspiration for the next generation. All of the featured graduates, despite the systemic odds against them, are successful and thriving.”
The five-part series is hosted by IDEAs alumnus EbaNee Bond, an entrepreneurial fellow at The University of Akron Research Foundation. Bond earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2018 as well as a Certificate in Professional Selling for Engineering Majors through UA’s College of Business Administration.
The first podcasts launched Nov. 17, Nov. 24 and Dec. 4. Subsequent episodes will be released each Tuesday. The series is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and can be listened to here. The episode descriptions and guest lineup, which features UA engineering alumni, can also be viewed on that webpage.
Instead of an in-person celebration to raise scholarships for students in the IDEAs program, the podcast series includes an online giving campaign with the goal of raising $30,000 by Dec. 30.
The IDEAs Program
Heidi Cressman
Founded in 1990, the Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics (IDEAs) program was created to provide an environment of inclusion for underrepresented engineering students by embracing and cultivating their uniqueness to impact the engineering community. The mission of the IDEAs program is to foster equity, diversity and inclusion; create educational and career related opportunities; recruit and strengthen the enrollment of underrepresented demographics; and boost academic success.
“The fact remains that college students who are prepared for the rigor of college classes and feel like they belong do better and succeed at a higher rate than students who do not engage with their university communities,” says Cressman. “That is why the IDEAs program is so crucial. This program bolsters the best and brightest underrepresented students, whether they are Black, LatinX, American Indian or other. The experiences in the program help them to see that they are capable of anything, including solving the toughest engineering challenges.
According to the American Society for Engineering Education, Black engineers currently make up 4.3% of the degrees awarded and Hispanic engineers make up just over 12% nationally, underscoring the need for effective programs at higher education institutions to recruit and retain underrepresented populations in engineering.
Since its founding, the program has graduated 372 students through the Spring 2020 semester. Currently, 237 undergraduate students are enrolled in the program, including 71 first-year students.
Kennedie Lomax
“Being a part of the IDEAs program has played a large role in my academic success with the University, mainly through the mentorship and scholarship opportunities they have provided me,” says Kennedie Lomax, a second-year civil engineering major from Columbus, Ohio. “If I wasn’t able to gain networking connections with older students within the program and receive funds in a dire time of need, I wouldn’t have been able to continue my education with the University let alone pass some courses I was enrolled in. The IDEAs program gave me a guaranteed place to study and find help when I needed it the most, and I am forever grateful for that and still continue to use it as a resource and an essential part of my education.”
Students in the IDEAs program have opportunities to participate in success workshops, attend speaking engagements by industry leaders and utilize spaces for learning, networking and virtual job interviewing. The College also provides spaces for groups such as the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers to meet.
“It is diversity that leads to innovation because it eliminates the homogeneity of thought or groupthink that tends to overtake organizations, especially engineering organizations,” says Cressman. “For companies that invest in diversity, these new innovations will create a culture of success and ultimately improve the bottom line.”
Media contact: Alex Knisely, 330-972-6477 or aknisely@uakron.edu.