UC advocates for diversity and inclusion in engineering

Whitney Gaskins, assistant dean of inclusive excellence and community engagement for the college, will give one of the keynote addresses at the first-ever WEPAN Virtual Women of Color Summit on Nov. 9.  

The summit, titled, “Leveraging, Learning, and Leading,” offers workshops that provide a platform for women of color in the STEM fields and their allies to network, engage in authentic discussions, and share best practices.

“WEPAN has made such a mark on my career and those of so many of my colleagues. I am appreciative of the opportunity to reciprocate that support to help other women in engineering,” said Gaskins.  

The Women in Engineering Virtual Program Days in early October, titled “Returning to Our Roots,” were sponsored by the National Science Foundation's Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships.

WEPAN’s Women in Engineering Program Day events are designed to convene practitioners and other stakeholders in the advancement of women in engineering to network, share resources, and discuss best practices for supporting women in engineering at higher education institutions.  

During the two-day event, Lampley served on a panel on Women in Engineering, sharing her personal and career journey.

P.K. Imbrie, head of UC's Department of Engineering Education, serves on the WEPAN Board of Directors. He says one of the most important things he’s reminded of in work with WEPAN and other similar organizations is the power of trying to understand other people’s perspectives. 

“It's the relationships, and listening to all the people like Dr. Gaskins across the country talk about student concerns and how they interact with students and how the work that they do makes a difference,” Imbrie said.