Students establish Association for Women of Color in Engineering

They agreed that forming a student organization could address many of the reasons women of color continue to represent only a small minority in engineering — at UC and around the world — including the need for more responsive support that targets the barriers and challenges they commonly encounter; increased representation of their experiences, concerns and successes; and better access to a community of peers. 

“Women of color within the engineering space have so many different experiences that we want to elaborate on. So many of us want that community. A lot of times, you find it in different organizations, but there is such a specific experience that we all go through,” said Kootin-Sanwu, a fourth-year information technology student focusing on software development. 

The organization’s mission is to support the diverse population of UC women in engineering and enhance the overall growth of its members through mentorship and provision of a safe, inclusive space to discuss the engineering experience through the lens of a woman of color. They aim to create a meaningful, powerful and supportive network of peers that share an understanding of their collective experience. 

Their goals also include promoting retention in engineering fields and advocating for more equitable distribution of professional, academic, and social opportunities to women of color. 

“AWOCE stands as a symbol of all the possibilities, what young girls of color can become, should they take an interest in engineering,” said Kirby, a third-year mechanical engineering student.  

Already off to a strong start, the organization helped coordinate a workshop on unconscious bias in January, co-hosted a lecture with the college’s Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement in February and formally introduced their mission at a Women of Color in Engineering event in March.

“Community discussions are essential in starting a dialogue and allowing people to feel heard. Creating spaces and starting conversations where people feel like they are genuinely appreciated, and that their input is valuable, goes a long way in fostering inclusivity,” said Modgil.

Kirby believes these initiatives are vital to improving the entire UC community because they reveal the broad variety of experiences, challenges and barriers that students face that may otherwise go unseen or unspoken—and therefore unaddressed.

“Often, oppressed groups of people do not have a voice in society. For that to change, people have to be willing to listen and help,” said Kirby.  

Uplifting marginalized voices and validating students' lived experiences not only improves the climate for underrepresented minority students; it ultimately fosters a more inclusive campus culture that supports the holistic success of all students.

The organization's future plans include hosting events where faculty speak on the importance of women of color in underrepresented fields and industry representatives share job opportunities and diversity initiatives at their companies; observing and celebrating more diverse holidays on campus; engaging with the college’s summer camps and community outreach programs and collaborating with other student organizations to increase inclusion, representation and opportunity for underrepresented minority students.

AWOCE meetings are open to all UC students, allies and anyone who would like to know more about the organization and its mission.