What’s New at WCEC This Spring
At the WCEC, we know that leadership grounded in equity, empathy, and community has the power to transform engineering—and this month’s newsletter celebrates just that. From liberatory leadership to bold systems change, we’re spotlighting the voices and initiatives moving our field forward.
We’re thrilled to partner with NSBE for an upcoming webinar on how Black women are reshaping the STEM ecosystem, share powerful reflections from Dr. Brooke Coley’s Synergiiize keynote, and introduce new tools through the WCEC Resource Center—all designed to support, uplift, and activate our community.
Plus, we're offering a first look at the WCEC Retention Institute—a new program to help organizations reimagine retention from the inside out. Because when we lead with wisdom, connection, and intention, we all rise.
Liberatory Leadership in Engineering:
Black Women Transforming the STEM Ecosystem
Join the WCEC and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) for a vibrant session celebrating the brilliance, innovation, and leadership of Black women in engineering.
This dynamic conversation will explore how Black women are transforming engineering spaces by leading with cultural wisdom, community-rooted values, and equity-centered practices. From early-career professionals to seasoned leaders, attendees will leave with practical tools to deepen their equity work, elevate inclusive leadership, and foster environments where everyone thrives.
Featured Speakers:
- Janeen Uzzell – CEO, National Black Society of Black Engineers (Moderator)
- Quincy K. Brown, PhD – Principal, Futures and Innovation
- Stephanie Creary, PhD – Assistant Professor of Management, Wharton School University of Pennsylvania
- Whitney Gaskins, PhD – President, NAMEPA; Founder, The Gaskins Foundation; Professor
🗓️ Wednesday, April 30 | 12 p.m. PT | 3 p.m. ET
💻 Free + virtual (register below)
Even if you can’t attend live, register, and we’ll send you the FAQ from the Q&A after the event.
Let’s reimagine what leadership looks like in engineering—together.
Introducing the WCEC Resource Center
We’re excited to launch the WCEC Resource Center, a dedicated space for Women of Color in Engineering and the organizations that support them. This new hub provides valuable resources to help navigate career growth, workplace inclusion, and leadership development.
📌 What you’ll find inside:
✔ Career development guides and mentorship resources
✔ Research and industry insights on diversity in engineering
✔ DEI strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces
✔ Opportunities to connect and engage with the community
Whether you're an engineer looking for professional growth or an organization working toward meaningful change, the Resource Center is here to support you. New resources will be added monthly!
Save the Date: WCEC Retention Institute
Sustainable retention starts with understanding, empathy, and action—and our upcoming program is designed to help organizations lead with all three.
This summer, WCEC is launching the Retention Institute, a free, multi-day virtual program. With four deep-dive sessions designed to help teams assess internal practices and apply research-backed strategies, this institute will equip your organization to lead with inclusion.
Interested in joining us? Fill out the interest form today to help us shape the experience and be the first to know when applications open!
I'm interested in learning more!
Upcoming WCEC Member Events
The WCEC shares numerous professional activities offered by our member organizations. Member organizations are committed to creating a supportive, encouraging, and inclusive environment for WOC in engineering. Find out more about their events and register to attend!
ACEC Annual Convention & Legislative Summit
Washington, DC | May 18–21, 2025
Join your peers for this three-day event and leave armed with the political intelligence and insights about the new administration that may impact your decisions about your strategic priorities in a changing environment.
SAMPE Conference
Indianapolis, IN | May 19-22, 2025
Hosted by the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE), SAMPE 2025 is North America's premier advanced materials and process engineering conference and exhibition tradeshow. SAMPE 2025 is where the advanced materials community comes together for face-to-face meetings, top-level education sessions and panels lead by the industry’s leaders and innovators.
AWWA's 2025 Annual Conference & Expo
Denver, CO | June 8-11, 2025
Water Solutions : Our journey to ensure clean and safe water is fueled by heightened awareness, elevated standards, and innovative solutions. As the world evolves, we remain vigilant, resourceful, and committed to collaboration. Let’s innovate together and ELEVATE the future of water.
ASEE National Conference
Montreal, Canada | June 22-25, 2025
The Annual Conference is the single largest gathering of the year for ASEE members. For many who attend, it is their best opportunity to share their individual and collective work in engineering education. Whether as part of a formal session or by meeting friends in the hallway, participants benefit from opportunities to share with and learn from others.
What is the WCEC?
The WCEC was created in 2021 as a partnership network of professional engineering societies and STEM-based companies. The WCEC is working to address systemic barriers that prohibit equitable work environments for women engineers of color.
Since its inception, the WCEC has grown to 29 organizations, created a shared vision and mission, and developed a strategic plan that will guide our efforts over the next few years. Thank you for your interest and support of our work. We hope that you will engage with the WCEC as we begin implementing the strategies aimed at tackling the major challenges facing women of color (WOC) in the engineering workplace.
Want to Get Involved?
Are you interested in having your organization become a member of the WCEC? Read our membership guidelines and fill out an application. Learn more.
While we don’t offer membership to individuals, we do want to grow the WCEC community! Soon we will begin collecting profiles of amazing WOC engineers for our Inspiring Leaders database. We are also collecting resources from our member organizations to place in our online Resource Center. We will be using this newsletter to get the word out as these activities get underway. Please share the WCEC with your network and invite others to sign up for our newsletter through the Contact Us form on the WCEC website.
