2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Few researchers would dispute that 2025 has been a tumultuous period for engineering research collaborations. For decades, the incentive systems within engineering programs across the nation have emphasized federal funding as the lifeblood for supporting students, advancing discovery, and influencing engineering practice. This model has served higher education and the engineering enterprise well. Yet, in the current environment—marked by pauses in new funding solicitations, shifts in federal priorities, and uncertainty in research investments, the foundations of this system have been tested. The resulting climate has required engineering leaders to rethink how to sustain excellence, foster innovation, and maintain community during disruptions.
Women currently comprise approximately 14% of engineering management positions, with only about 9% ascending to director-level roles. Globally, women hold fewer than 30% of leadership positions within academia, and female leaders often encounter heightened scrutiny, societal expectations, and gender bias. These challenges are intensified during periods of uncertainty, where resources constraints, policy and practice shifts, and strategic instability demand adaptive leadership.
This case study (Yin, 2018) illuminates the lived experiences of a female engineering leader navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing federal funding uncertainties. Employing testimonios as a qualitative methodology (Delgado Bernal, 1998; Huber, 2009), complemented by Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1977) and Feminist Theory, the study explores the intersectional identities influencing leadership resilience and strategic adaptation under challenging time. Through critical autoethnography, the research highlights the strengths, agency, and innovative capacities developed by a woman leader facing challenging contexts.
This paper concludes with a discussion on how leading during times of upheaval can foster the development of self-efficacy and resilience among women in engineering leadership roles. It offers insights for educators, practitioners, and policymakers aiming to support equitable leadership development and to cultivate adaptive, inclusive leadership models in engineering fields.