Download the flyer.
Learn about two ongoing projects aimed at measuring gender differences in faculty retention and promotion and exploring the experiences of students living with mental health conditions in this Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering Seminar.
Opportunities for organizational change: a research agenda to advance diversity and inclusion in the engineering education ecosystem
Presented by Matilde Sanchez-Pena, Purdue University
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
9:15–10:15 a.m.
Santa Catalina Hall (SANCA) 151, Polytechnic campus [map] and Zoom
This seminar is free and available via Zoom Video Conferencing Link.
Abstract
In this talk, Sanchez-Pena presents elements of her current research agenda that focus on the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the engineering education ecosystem. Her projects assess and promote change at the organizational level by considering its different constituents. She will focus on two ongoing projects aimed at measuring gender differences in faculty retention and promotion and exploring the experiences of students living with mental health conditions. She will present her motivation for engaging with each project, as well as some results and ongoing research. The research accentuates how quantitative methods within a solid theoretical understanding can leverage qualitative results in order to understand the experiences of marginalized groups. She concludes by outlining future projects and opportunities for contribution within The Polytechnic School and sharing her vision for supporting change towards the development of a more inclusive and holistic engineering education culture through research and teaching.
About the speaker
Matilde Sanchez-Pena is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Engineering Education at Purdue University. She completed her doctorate in engineering education from the same institution in 2018. Her dissertation explored gender differences in faculty retention and promotion at research-intensive institutions. Her current research areas include advancing diversity, cultures of health and data analysis skills. She aims to promote a more equitable engineering field in which students of all backgrounds can acquire the knowledge and skills to achieve their goals. Before engaging in engineering education research, she completed graduate degrees in industrial engineering and Statistics and contributed to a wide range of research areas including genetic disorders, manufacturing optimization, cancer biomarker detection, and the evaluation of social programs. Sanchez-Pena is passionate about teaching engineering students and First-Year Engineering students in particular, from whom she draws inspiration because of their energy and creativity. She takes as her mission to foster such traits and support their holistic development, so they can find their unique engineering path and enact positive change.
