Texas Tech Engineering New Role Models for Women

Pitch

Engineering may traditionally be a male-dominated field, but Texas Tech University is breaking down gender barriers giving it a Female Focus.

In conjunction with National Engineers Week, Thursday is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

At the Whitacre College of Engineering, female enrollment has risen from 12.9 percent in 2010 to 14.9 percent in 2013, in part through efforts of the following four women.

Experts

Michelle Pantoya, professor and J.W. Wright Regents Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, (806) 834-3733 or michelle.pantoya@ttu.edu.

• As co-author of a children’s book series, Pantoya engages future generations in the engineering process by showing them how vital the field is to everyday life as we know it.

Tanja Karp, associate professor, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, (806) 834-8412 or tanja.karp@ttu.edu.

• Inspiring prospective engineering students through outreach programs, including the Society of Women Engineers and GEAR (Get Excited About Robotics) for school-aged children.

Audra Morse, associate dean for undergraduate studies and professor, (806) 834-3474 or audra.n.morse@ttu.edu.

• Working in conjunction with Engineering Opportunities Center to increase visibility and numbers of female students in engineering, from recruitment to job placement.

Zaida Gracia, director of special projects, (806) 834-6184 or zaida.gracia@ttu.edu.

• Developing strategies to shift the ways that females perceive engineering, through outreach and leadership skills training.

Get to know female alumnae, current students and student organizations here, at a site dedicated to the advancement of female engineering students at Texas Tech.