The “Men as Diversity Partners” SWE podcast series highlights conversations about male diversity partners and their impact on advancing women engineers. These conversations inspired the creation of the HeForSWE Affinity Group.
The purpose of the HeForSWE Affinity Group is to grow inclusion and advocacy efforts by way of increasing male allies in STEM fields. This Affinity Group seeks to make sustainable efforts towards a more diverse and inclusive culture where women and other underrepresented gender engineers are recognized as essential members of their teams and companies.
HeForSWE aims at being a meaningful resource for SWE members by providing multiple perspectives on gender inclusivity.
In SWE podcasts, blog posts, and the SWE Facebook Group, members express their struggles and discuss the importance of having supportive diversity partners and male mentors who use their influence to advocate for the advancement of women in engineering. HeForSWE is a strategic initiative to increase male diversity partners and further the SWE mission.
“We all recognize we need to do more in this area, and when men and women lean in together we can be really successful.”
– Rick Naples, BD EVP and Chief Regulatory Officer, Men as Diversity Partners Podcast
HEforSWE Founders
The founders of the HeForSWE Affinity Group are Catherine Martsolf, EIT, LEED Green Associate and Ken Fulmer, President and CEO of Urban Engineers, Inc.
Ken is a licensed Professional Engineer and graduate of Drexel University, and a diversity advocate. Catherine and Ken are committed to the SWE mission and champion diversity in engineering.
Catherine Martsolf, EIT, LEED Green Associate is a dedicated member of SWE and enjoys being an active volunteer while also an environmental engineer in the government sector. She is a past President of the Temple University collegiate section and Secretary for MAL section. Catherine’s passion for minorities in engineering is demonstrated through her involvement in SWE conferences, outreach at her local museums and as an “Invent It. Built It” Role Model.
She is the recipient of the SWE Outstanding Collegiate Member Award.
The SWE Affinity Groups (AGs) mission is to bring together communities that share similar interests and backgrounds that embody the SWE Core Values of Integrity, Inclusive Environment, Mutual Support, Professional Excellence and Trust.
The Affinity Groups are grassroot communities that help support the Diversity and Inclusion strategic goals of SWE. The SWE Affinity Groups framework includes Build Community, Professional Development, and Member Empowerment. Learn more here or email affinitygroups@swe.org with your questions.
Related content:
- Video: Men As Diversity Partners Panel in Prague
- Men as Diversity Partners Podcast: Michael Milligan of ABET
- Men As Diversity Partners Podcast with Ernest Adams
- Podcast: Men As Diversity Partners for Women in Engineering
