2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Motivations, Challenges, and Future Aspirations of Women in Engineering at an HBCU

This work in progress investigates the motivations, challenges, and future aspirations of self-identified women in engineering at one of the nation’s oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - institutions that serve as vital pipelines for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the STEM workforce. The study aims to inform institutional strategies that create more inclusive, supportive environments for women in engineering. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates qualitative interviews with one female faculty member and survey data from 14 undergraduate and graduate women in engineering. Interviews, guided by semi-structured questions, explored themes of mentorship, leadership, diversity, and work-life balance. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns. Initial findings reveal that a passion for STEM and problem-solving drives these women, with mentorship and family support acting as key motivators. Major challenges include balancing academic and personal life, limited access to leadership opportunities, and a lack of community support. Nonetheless, most participants expressed confidence in their career paths, particularly those with strong mentorship and institutional backing. By bridging qualitative and quantitative insights, this ongoing research contributes to a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of women in engineering at HBCUs. The study highlights the importance of mentorship, inclusive academic practices, and institutional support - critical themes for enhancing equity and leadership development in engineering. This work will be presented as a traditional lecture at the conference.

Authors

Mrs. Abiola Olayinka Ajala http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8848-1843 Morgan State University [biography]

Abiola Olayinka Ajala is an AI researcher for the National Airspace System (NAS) at Morgan State University, pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering with a focus on Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI. Currently working on a research on climate resilience and aviation security using AI-driven solutions. With a Master’s in Advanced Computing and a Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Abiola has expertise in data science, cybersecurity, networking, business analysis, and system administration. A member of ASEE,IEEE who is passionate about STEM education to introduce K1-12 students to computing/ engineering skills and digital literacy.
Blessing Isoyiza ADEIKA http://orcid.org/https://0009-0007-5600-8051 Morgan State University [biography]

Blessing ADEIKA is a graduate student at Morgan State University currently studying Advanced Computing. She has interest in teaching student basic concepts by adopting an Experiment-centric approach to it. She also is currently working towards being a Data Scientist - AI/ML Expert and hope to use her skills to prefer solutions in the Medical, Financial, Technology and any other Sector she sees a need to be filled/catered for.
Opeyemi Taiwo Adeniran Morgan State University [biography]

Opeyemi Adeniran is a graduate student in advanced computing at Morgan State University and a research assistant for the National Science Foundation.
Raymond Deji Olamijulo Morgan State University [biography]

Mr Raymond Olamijulo is a graduate assistant in the Computer Science department at Morgan State University. With a research focus on experiment-centric pedagogy in engineering education, Mr. Olamijulo has contributed to advancing both theoretical and practical aspects of engineering education and technology integration in the curriculum.

Mr Olamijulo holds a B.Sc. in Information and Communication Technology from Crawford University. He also holds a Masters degree in International MBA from Ulyanovsk State University. He has been a part of multiple international conferences promoting technological advancements.

In addition to his academic work, Mr Olamijulo is committed to enhancing the educational experience of undergraduate and graduate students through innovative teaching strategies and hands-on projects. He is actively involved in advising student projects, mentoring research groups, promoting hands-on learning experiences and is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in the engineering field.
Sarah Halleluyah Adeyemi Morgan State University [biography]

Sarah Halleluyah Adeyemi is a Master student in the Department of Bioinformatics at Morgan State University. She holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from Mountain Top University, Nigeria. Her research interests focus on gene expression analysis, cardiovascular genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and the application of computational tools in biomedical research. She is also currently working towards being a Data Scientist.
Sarah has research experience from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, where she contributed to infectious disease diagnostics and antimicrobial studies. She also worked in the R&D division at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, gaining insight into food safety, quality control, and process validation. Currently, she serves as a graduate assistant on interdisciplinary research projects funded by NASA and ETA-STEM, supporting data analysis and science education initiatives. She is a member of ASEE, IEEE, passionate about STEM education and is passionate about integrating bioinformatics and molecular biology to solve health-related challenges and promote inclusive scientific research.
Blessing Omomola Morgan State University [biography]

Blessing Omomola is a graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering at Morgan State University. He holds a first-class Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria. His research interests include supply chain resilience, data analytics, sustainable systems, and the application of artificial intelligence in engineering management. Blessing currently serves as a graduate research assistant, contributing to projects focused on climate resilience and infrastructure disruptions. He is passionate about leveraging technology and research to develop practical solutions that positively impact communities worldwide.
Ayobami Christianah Dunmoye Morgan and Claypool Publishers [biography]

Ayobami Dunmoye is a Civil Engineering graduate student at Morgan State University, focusing on Construction Management. Her research examines how peer and faculty interactions influence the sense of belonging among international students and female engineering students at HBCUs, with an emphasis on inclusion, adaptation, and academic resilience which she is passionate about
Mr. Pelumi Olaitan Abiodun http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4969-9591 Morgan State University [biography]

Pelumi Abiodun is a current doctoral student and research assistant at the department of Civil Engineering, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland. Pelumi got his BSc and MSc degree in Physics from Obafemi Awolowo University, where he also served as a research assistant at the Environmental Pollution Research unit, in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. As part of his contribution to science and engineering, Pelumi has taught as a teaching assistant both at Morgan State University and Obafemi Awolowo University. With passion to communicate research findings and gleaned from experts in the field as he advances his career, Olaitan has attended several in-persons and virtual conferences and workshop, and at some of them, made presentation on findings on air pollution, waste water reuse, and heavy metal contamination.
Dr. Oludare Adegbola Owolabi P.E. Morgan State University [biography]

Dr. Oludare Owolabi, a professional engineer in Maryland, joined the Morgan State University faculty
in 2010. He is the director of the sustainable infrastructure development, smart innovation and resilient
engineering lab and the director of undergraduate programs in the department of civil engineering at Morgan
State University.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 22, 2025, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 25, 2025