Society of Women Engineers

1
Society of Women Engineers

• SWEs Vision
• To be the recognized authority on, and advocate
  for, women in engineering.
• SWEs Core Purpose
• Stimulate women to achieve full potential in
  careers as engineers and leaders,
• Expand the image of the engineering profession as
  a positive force in improving the quality of
  life, and
• Demonstrate the value of diversity.
• SWEs Core Values
• Integrity
• Respect
• Mutual Support
• Professional Excellence

2
SWEs Strategic Goals

• Leadership Professional Competency Women will
  be acknowledged as demonstrating the skills
  required to be effective leaders in a global
  marketplace.
• Education Outreach The technical professions
  will benefit, and the quality of life will be
  enhanced, by more women of all backgrounds
  pursuing the profession of engineering.
• Knowledge Source SWE will be a worldwide leader
  and preferred partner in the creation and
  advancement of information about women in
  technical careers.
• Inclusive Organization SWE will be an inclusive
  organization focused on issues of interest to
  women of all backgrounds in engineering and
  technical careers.
• Value and Benefit SWE programs and services
  across the organization will provide value and
  benefit and meet the diverse and changing needs
  of Society members and stakeholders.

3
Career Guidance Programs

• Space Coast
• Expanding Your Horizons Conference
• Science Fair Awards
• Certificate of Merit Program
• SWE Tech Abilities Program
• Seeking a grant to sponsor an after school girls
  science club
• Mentoring program for college students
• Girl Scout Workshops in science areas
• National
• Email mentoring for High School students
• Program to improve guidance counseling of girls
  in Junior High School
• Library of Career Guidance books and audio/video
  tapes
• Program modules on the web

4
Professional Development

• Space Coast
• Monthly meetings with speakers on wide variety of
  topics
• Professional development conferences every 2-3
  years
• Provide networking opportunities
• Provide leadership opportunities
• Woman Engineer of the Year Awards
• National
• National Conference provides a wide variety of
  workshops, seminars and career fair
• Region Conference -- workshops and career fair
• Library of Professional Development books and
  audio/video tapes
• National Awards program

5
History of SWE

• 1950 -- Founded by a small group of women
  engineers and students in four sections.
• 1960s -- approximately 500 members and student
  members.
• SWE begins outreach to Junior and Senior High
  School students.
• Sponsors the First International Conference of
  Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES).
• 1970s -- Large influx of students.
  Approximately 11,000 members and student members
  with the average age down to 35.
• 1980s -- Expanded efforts to provide
  professional development opportunities for
  members. Approximately 13,000 members and
  student members.
• 1990s -- Membership of 5400 members in 82
  sections and 9200 student members in 299 colleges
  and universities.

6
SWE Scholarships

• Scholarships for women studying Engineering and
  Computer Science.
• 200,000 in scholarships given annually through
  the national organization.
• 225,000 in scholarships given annually by local
  sections across the country.
• Space Coast awards two 1000 scholarships
  annually.
• Freshman, upperclass and re-entry scholarships
  are available.

7
Region DSoutheast
Alabama North Carolina Florida South
Carolina Georgia Tennessee Puerto Rico

• 15 sections with 453 members
• 35 college and university student sections with
  794 student members
• Annual Region Conference with Career Fair --
  Excellent recruiting opportunity

8
Women as a percentage of the U.S. labor force and
of the engineering labor force, by field of
engineering 1995
Women in College and the Workforce
SOURCE Women, Minorities and Persons with
Disabilities in Science and Engineering-1998, NSF
9
Future Workforce

• Despite the fact that young women constitute
  more than half of the college population, few are
  pursuing careers in science and engineering
  because nothing in the image of the field conveys
  its tremendous potential for making a positive
  contribution to society. Anita Borg in the San
  Francisco Chronicle
• There wont be enough younger workers to fill
  the gap. In the decade ending 2006, the number
  of workers in the 25-34 age range will decline
  9 Dallas Morning News.
• If the cure for cancer is in the mind of a
  woman, will we ever find it? Dr. Kristina
  Johnson, Dean of Engineering, Duke University