In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, SWE will be highlighting Latinx/Hispanic women engineers and entrepreneurs in a series of blog posts.
Meet and learn about four SWEesters in SWE’s Latinos Affinity Group: Claudia Berdugo, Alejandra Leija, Carlotta Bowman and Camila Mancia.
Claudia Berdugo
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degrees/Certifications: B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Colombia; Bogota, Colombia
Current Job/Title: Ph.D. Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Hobbies: Dancing, Reading, Travelling
Connection to Latinos AG:Â SWE member, from Colombia
Current SWE Positions: FY21 SWE Global Women Engineers AG Lead; SWE Leadership Coach – Leadership Coaching Committee
What does being Latina/Hispanic/an ally mean to you?Â
Someone that acknowledges diversity and listens
Alejandra Leigja
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degrees/Certifications: working towards Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering
Current Job/Title: Mechanical Engineering Student
Hobbies: Running, painting, plants, music
Connection to Latinos AG: President of SWE at Fresno State
What does being Latina/Hispanic/an ally mean to you?Â
“It means that I am strong and empowered. I have determination. I love traditions from my family’s culture and representing other Latinas.”
Carlotta Bowman
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Degrees/Certifications: Masters Cert at Thunderbird International Graduate School of Mgt Subject Matter
Global Leadership: MBA at Keller Graduate School of Mgt; Bachelors at University of New Mexico Subject
Matter Engineering and Finance: Associates at Purdue University
Current Job/Title: Development Manager of Programs
Hobbies: Cooking
Connection to the Latinos AG: SWE Member
What does being a Latina/Hispanic/an ally mean to you?
“It means strong family ties, faith, and love for others”
Camila Mancia
Pronouns: She, her, hers
Degrees: B.S Industrial Engineering, M.B.A (STEM Track)
Current Job/Title: GRDP Engineer at Cameron, a Schlumberger Company
Hobbies: I love dancing! I currently teach group fitness classes such as Zumba (my go-to cardio), Pilates, Step, and other formats.
Connection to the Latinos AG: New Member – Latin American (El Salvador)
What does being Latina/an ally mean to you?Â
To me, being Latina/Hispanic means finding diversity and adversity from a very young age and overcoming challenges. It means that you will be living proof to others that it is possible for women to be wonderful students, professionals, and even heads of households if you desire. It means paving the way for other Latinas who will also become the first-in-family to challenge generational stereotypes. It means cherishing your culture and taking the best parts of it to teach others about resilience, perseverance, and solidarity.
Other info: I was born in California but raised in El Salvador. So fun fact, in order to study in the US, I graduated from high school twice, once in El Salvador and once in Texas. I moved to the US when I was 17 years old to pursue higher education and did not want to let anything get in the way of my goals. I became a first-generation Latin-American female engineering student, graduated from Industrial Engineering Magna Cum Laude with a Minor in Mathematics, and completed a Master of Business Administration in the accelerated STEM track. But, school is not all there is to life. Following my passion for dance and movement, I became a group fitness instructor. I now teach Zumba, Pilates, Step, and other formats as a hobby.
Throughout my journey as a Collegiate and a Professional, the Society of Women Engineers opened my eyes to the possibilities of a career in engineering and the importance of inclusion. This is why I became involved in the organization 6 years ago as a student, and now I volunteer in SWE as a part of the Leadership Coaching Committee. I believe that diversity and adversity are crucial to triumph. Therefore, I have never been happier about my decision to move to the US where I get to experience diversity in my everyday life. I hope I can continue to lead by example and open doors for talented individuals who find representation in me.
Related Content:
- Fixing the Leaky Pipeline: Hispanic Heritage Month
- Podcast: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage with Latina Leader, Eileen VĂ©lez-Vega
- Ways YOU Can Help in the Latinx/Hispanic Community!
- Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
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