2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This work-in-progress practice paper presents findings from the first three years of an engineering leadership program. Our program, launched in Spring 2023, is a leadership development initiative dedicated to empowering upper-division and graduate-level women and non-binary engineering students. Rooted in equity and inclusion, the program is designed to encourage leadership identity development, foster a supportive community, and provide resources for academic persistence.

During the program, students engage in weekly two-hour training sessions co-facilitated by staff, faculty, and industry professionals, complete written reflections, and participate in activities such as off-site industry visits, team building exercises, and mentoring with faculty and professional engineers, culminating with a final team presentation. These engagements address a variety of topics tailored to women and non-binary engineers, including navigating implicit bias, resume and interview preparation, elements of negotiation, communication, and leadership identity development.

To assess program impact, we collected and analyzed post-program survey data from our first three cohorts containing both quantitative and qualitative questions. Preliminary results show gains in participants’ self-reported leadership attributes and competencies, including interpersonal communication, conflict navigation, and confidence. Participants also more clearly articulated their definition of a leader, identifying key traits such as inspiring, empowering, goal-oriented, and trustworthy. Participants also found it particularly valuable to have professional women engineers as instructors and mentors throughout the program.

Each year, we refine the program based on participant feedback. Looking ahead, we plan to lengthen the program beyond the one term to deepen mentoring relationships and strengthen community connections. We also aim to broaden access to first- and second-year students. Future directions include longitudinal tracking of alumni and the long-term impact of the program on participants’ leadership development.