Creating community on campus

The Association for Women of Color in Engineering brings students together

In 2021, the Association for Women of Color in Engineering was formed at the University of Cincinnati with the mission of providing an inclusive space and voice for women-identifying engineers of color. Since then, the student group has built a strong foundation, and its membership and impact continue to grow.

For co-presidents Megan Sheth and Chloe Rajbhandari, the group has shaped their UC experience.

AWOCE students listen to a presentation at an annual conference

Megan Sheth, far left, and Chloe Rajbhandari, far right, serve as co-presidents of the Association for Women of Color in Engineering. Photo/provided

"I joined as a freshman because I really wanted to get involved," said Sheth, a mechanical engineering student who is graduating in the spring of 2025. "Right away I realized this was a community I needed and that I'd never had before."

The retention rate of women in engineering, as well as people of color in engineering, is much lower compared to other demographics. For students, having a community of people who have shared experiences and backgrounds, especially on campus, is invaluable.

"We're trying to create a community to make college a little bit easier. We want to help people stay in school and feel included," said Rajbhandari, an environmental engineering student who will graduate in 2026.

The association hosts various gatherings and events throughout the year, including professional development opportunities, mental health vent sessions, and a new event Sheth and Rajbhandari developed this year, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging day.

Sheth was inspired by an assignment in a previous class wherein students were instructed to visit an affinity organization, watch a movie, or do something in that vein to expand their cultural competence. However, Sheth noticed that students weren't always truly engaged with this assignment, and she wanted to create an opportunity to provide the valuable engagement that was lacking.

"I wanted to make Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Day a more meaningful discussion in our setting," Sheth said. "I wanted it to be fun and interactive."

A girl wearing a safety vest and construction hat smiles at a woman holding a microphone during a diversity fashion show event.

The professional wear fashion show during Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Day was led by Association for Women of Color in Engineering faculty adviser Paula Lampley. Photo/Provided

The event consisted of three sessions: a professional-wear fashion show, a vent session, and uncomfortable conversations in the workplace. Each of the three sessions had its own goal. The professional-wear fashion show aimed to kick off the event in a fun, celebratory way that challenged attendees and association members to step out of their comfort zone. Sheth shared that this portion was a major success, even having industry professionals participate. The vent session was meant not only to introduce attendees to an association signature event, but to center the discussion around diversity, equity and inclusion, creating a safe space for people to ask questions and share their experiences. To close the session, the group brought in Amy Blankenship, the CEAS embedded mental health counselor, to share resources available for students in need. The final session on uncomfortable conversations in the workplace, was inspired by lived experiences association members had shared in the past during vent sessions. During co-op and in other professional settings, comments and questions inappropriate for the workplace had been directed towards members. Sheth and Rajbhandari created this session to address, inform, and prepare people for these situations.

"We wanted to make sure people who are entering co-ops are prepared for and educated on how to respond in these situations," Sheth said.

This session was led by Associate Dean Whitney Gaskins and was a productive and eye-opening portion of the event. Following the association's first-ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Day, Sheth and Rajbhandari are looking ahead to the next one following positive feedback.

AWOCE members pose together at the women of color in STEM conference

The Association for Women of Color in Engineering sent several members to Detroit, Mich., for a Women of Color in STEM conference. Photo/Provided

This year, the group had the opportunity to send several of its members to Detroit, Michigan for a Women of Color in STEM Conference. While there, members attended multiple sessions a day hearing from other women in STEM, many of whom hold leadership positions within their organizations. The sessions were designed as panels, which gave attendees a chance to ask questions and receive feedback in a unique way.

"Our members really leaned into that. I could see their confidence building throughout the conference because they would ask multiple questions, meet with panelists one-on-one after sessions to network, and it was a really great experience," Rajbhandari said.

Along with professional development including networking and a conference career fair, the members of the association were able to bond with one another on a personal level outside of an academic setting.

Featured image at top: Members of the Association for Women of Color in Engineering attend a STEM conference in Detroit, Mich. Photo/Provided

Creating community on campus

The Association for Women of Color in Engineering brings students together

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