DISTINGUISHED LECTURE: Reimagining Engineering: Racialization, Belonging, and the Sociocultural Dimensions of Latino/a/x Experiences
Special
ASEE Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (CDEI) and Minorities in Engineering Division(MIND)
Tue. June 24, 2025 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM
St Jacques, Westin Montreal
There are currently 11 registrants interested in attending
For those interested in Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
Description
This Distinguished Lecture will encourage attendees to challenge conventional boundaries of engineering by critically examining how racialization, linguistic practices, and cultural contexts shape perceptions of who is considered to "belong" in the field. Focusing on the historical racialization of Latinos/as/xs in the U.S. Southwest, the lecture explores how these dynamics continue to influence the experiences of Latino/a/x students in engineering today. Through a combination of testimonios and the concept of theory in the flesh, the discussion will address the sociohistorical and sociopolitical challenges these students face as they navigate their engineering education. Drawing on Chicana Feminist Epistemology, the lecture highlights how contextual sociocultural and historical factors—often overlooked in traditional Westernized research methods—shape what counts as engineering (i.e., knowledge), who belongs in engineering (i.e., kinship), and who does engineering (i.e., legitimization).
Speakers
Dr. Joel Alejandro Mejia
University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
Dr. Joel Alejandro (Alex) Mejia is a Professor of Engineering Education and Department Head of the Department of Engineering & Computing Education at the University of Cincinnati. Prior to working in academia, he worked as a project engineer for the Department of Defense, Rio Tinto, and FLSmidth Minerals. Dr. Mejia’s work seeks to analyze and describe the assets, tensions, contradictions, and cultural collisions many Latino/a/x students experience in engineering through pláticas and testimonios. His research has contributed to the integration of critical theoretical frameworks in engineering education to investigate deficit ideologies and their impact on minoritized communities. He is particularly interested in approaches that contribute to a more expansive understanding of engineering in sociocultural contexts, bilingual engineering education, and the impact of critical consciousness in engineering practice. Dr. Mejia received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award in 2025 – the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers.