In honor of First-Generation College Celebration Day, celebrated on Nov. 8 in the U.S., dive into the stories of several first-generation women engineers in this episode of Diverse!
Monick Estrada and Lavanya Munjam share their experiences as first-generation engineers at the collegiate and professional levels in conversation with host Danielle Schroeder.
Hear their reflections on the complexities of navigating two cultures, the importance of building strong networks, and the unique strengths that first-gen engineers bring to the workplace. Plus, find out how the SWE First Generation Students and Professionals Affinity Group is supporting first-gen women in STEM.
Listen to the episode on SWE’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.
Guest: Monick Estrada, SWE First Generation Students and Professionals Affinity Group
Monick is a Latina and first-generation college student living in Alaska who has worked for Shell, Conoco, and other large organizations.
She has worked in oil and gas refineries, Department of Defense bases, and Alaska construction sites. Monick has been trained in civil, mechanical, and telecom engineering, and she has had the opportunity to lead large field teams and execute projects over $400 million.
She knows what it feels like to feel alone and not know who to turn to for help. She went on to become a wellness coach to ensure no one else feels that way. Her passion is helping women in STEM thrive in their careers.
Guest: Lavanya Munjam, SWE First Generation Students and Professionals Affinity Group
Lavanya Munjam is a third-year biological systems engineering student at Iowa State University, where she also minors in biomedical engineering. As an active member of SWE, she serves as the collegiate engagement lead for the First-Generation Affinity Group and is part of SWE’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) and Collegiate Leadership Institute (CLI).
Passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers, she volunteers for initiatives like SWE’s Girls Discovering Engineering, working with young students to foster critical thinking and an interest in STEM.
Lavanya’s interests include traveling, exploring biomedical devices, fashion, and reading thought-provoking books like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. She also enjoys watching films, with Poor Things being a recent favorite.
Host: Danielle Schroeder, SWE First Generation Students and Professionals Affinity Group
Danielle Schroeder, PE, ENV SP, (she/her/hers) joined SWE in 2012 as a first-year student at Drexel University. She graduated with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering in June 2017. Danielle works as a Transportation Engineer at Gannett Fleming TranSystems in their Philadelphia office and is a life-long Pennsylvania resident.
She serves as social media chair for Philadelphia SWE and previously held roles as collegiate liaison and vice president of outreach for the Section. Danielle has presented at multiple SWE conferences, including the 2017 Region E Conference, WE17, WE Local Baltimore, WE21, WE Local Detroit, and WE23.
She is also the SWE Counselor for Drexel SWE and received the Outstanding SWE Counselor Award for her efforts at WE23. Danielle has been a member of the SWE First-Generation Students and Professionals Affinity Group since its founding in early 2023.
In her free time, Danielle enjoys snowboarding, playing tennis, watching Philadelphia Eagles games with family and friends, and exploring all that Philly has to offer.
Diverse: a SWE podcast has been recognized as a top women in STEM podcast and a top engineering podcast!
