2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Women leaders in STEM: shaping role models

Presented at Women in Engineering Division (WIED) Technical Session 4

Increasing vocations is one of the challenges for the School of Engineering, Science and Technology at universities. And a major challenge is to increase female vocations in STEM programs traditionally considered for men. One of the strategies used by different universities are role models, women engineers, scientists, professors, professionals, who share their passion for the discipline, their achievements and trajectory, as well as their barriers and driving forces. The purpose of this research is to share the distinctive elements that these role models present by comparing the profiles of outstanding women in different fields and recognized nationally and internationally. The research questions to be answered: what common characteristics do women who are recognized for their careers and achievements have in common? what common phrases or ideas do these women highlight to share with others from their experiences? what strategies can be derived from these findings to promote the successful development of more women in STEM careers? The methodology is mixed approach, consisting of the following phases: research plan, description of the awards to be used for comparison (one national and one international for Latin America), analysis of the professional and personal development of the winners, the design and implementation of a survey of women recognized as role models, in-depth interview of a sample of them, a comparative analysis and the generation of conclusions and recommendations . Preliminary findings show in common a passion for their discipline, clear decision making, commitment to their learning and the creation of a supportive community dependent on circumstances. There are differences in contexts, in the career selection process and limitations and perceptions regarding the perspective of gender barriers. However, they all agree on the desire to share their life experience, to motivate and encourage more young people to study STEM careers as a life choice, setting aside biases and taking advantage of opportunities and support from a community of both men and women. Identifying common characteristics provides the opportunity to define strategies to reach more girls and young women, to share STEM careers as a life choice, which will guide them to transform not only their lives but other lives, organizations and societies.

Authors

Dr. Maria Ileana Ruiz-Cantisani http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-8467-3178 Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM) [biography]

Maria Ileana Ruiz-Cantisani has a PhD in Educational Innovation and Master of Science in Engineering with specialization in Systems and Quality, and Industrial Engineer. She is Associate Professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences, and professor in Capstone Courses on industrial engineering. She leads projects in the areas of educational innovation , virtual reality and student engagement, active learning and women in stem. She is member of Catedra Abierta Latinoaméricana Matilda ( as member of the board that leads the chair, ), and leader of Women in STEM Committee of the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI). She is member of Ingenia, Women in Engineering and Sciences of the School of Engineering and Science. Ileana is National Head of Higher Education of the School of Engineering and Sciences of Tecnologico de Monterrey
Elizabeth Mena-Aviles http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8849-2390 Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences
Dr. Maria Mercedes Larrondo-Petrie http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2354-4986 Florida Atlantic University [biography]

Dr. Larrondo Petrie has a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering and is a Professor at Florida Atlantic University. She is the pro-bono Executive Director of LACCEI (Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions), a Titular Member of the Pan-American Academy of Engineering. and directs the Organization of American States’ OAS Center of Excellence of Engineering for the Americas. She serves on Standards Development Working Groups for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). Awards she has received include: the Global Engineering Deans Council and the International Federation of Engineering Education joint Duncan Fraser International Engineering Education Award in 2016, the IEEE’s Edwin Jones Service award, the American Society of Engineering Education’s International Engineering Educator Award, the Society of Women Engineers’ Outstanding Women in Engineering of 2019, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’ National Faculty Advisor of the Year in 2018. The U.S. National Academy of Engineering invited her to be part of their Indo-US Collaboration for Engineering Education initiative, and she was appointed US-Mentor to the State of Gujarat, India. Her research interests focus on global engineering education, designing next generation learning systems, modeling complex systems, and designing for security. Her research publications earned her an h-index of 27, an i-index of 60, a g-index of 31 and have received over 2100 citations. She was awarded more than four million dollars in research grants over her career.
Dr. LIBIS Valdez-Cervantes Dr. Fundación Universitaria Antonio de Arévalo (Unitecnar)
Laura Romero Tecnologico de Monterrey

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