Hispanics in Leadership: Meet Two Students at the Helm of CU Denver’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Chapter
From the classroom to the workforce, student organizations at CU Denver help guide people into careers where they can make a difference. And the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is no exception: In November, 11 CU Denver students travelled to Charlotte, North Carolina to participate in the organization’s national conference—and two even walked away with job offers. Here, we sat down with some members of SHPE’s leadership team to learn more about how the group helps develop leadership skills, builds a sense of belonging, and allows them to engage more with their campus.
Meet Jose Treto Davila, candidate for a BS in Mechanical Engineering and president of CU Denver’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
What does your organization offer CU Denver students?
It offers professional development, the opportunity to better understand what the engineering field embodies, and access to internships, jobs, and professionals you don’t get to meet otherwise. At this year’s SHPE national conference, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the College of Engineering, Design, and Computing sent 11 engineering students to attend, and I was fortunate enough to land an interview on the spot with Pfizer.
What does leadership mean to you?
A true sign of leadership is someone who excels in guiding a team while providing support every step of the way. I am proud of leading the initiative “Dia de Ciencias” (Day of Science) where we visit high school students to inspire them to pursue engineering, especially when research shows a lack of representation in the industry.
Which Hispanic leaders do you admire?
The first Mexican astronaut was Jose M. Hernandez who grew up in California as a farmer before he went to school to study electrical engineering. As a Mexican American truly connected to my heritage, it’s an inspiring story. It demonstrates that if you set your mind to what you want, you can achieve it.
What are your career aspirations?
I want to continue my educational journey and pursue additional credentials. Upon graduation in 2023, I will take the fundamental engineering (FE) exam followed by the professional engineering (PE) exam to help me elevate my career in engineering and obtain more job opportunities in the future.
Meet Alejandro Miramontes, candidate for a BS in mechanical engineering and treasurer of CU Denver’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
What does your organization offer CU Denver students?
Networking, mentoring, and many opportunities to find a job in the different specialties of engineering. I have attended four SHPE conferences and this year I received two job offers, from Lockheed Martin and P&G. One was while at the airport heading home, and the other via email after interviewing with them on site. I’m grateful to be a part of this organization.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership involves being a role model, showing your team what you want to accomplish, and inspiring your team. Communication plays a big role in developing relationships and collaborating to accomplish what you’re looking to achieve. I’m also a project lead for the Rocket Lynx team within the Senior Design course which works on developing a hybrid rocket engine meant for satellite payloads, a way to transfer satellites into space.
Which Hispanic leaders do you admire?
I admire Ever Rodriguez, who was my mentor when I studied at the University of Colorado Boulder campus. As the president of SHPE at Boulder, he inspired me to stay determined and to enroll in the engineering program at CU Denver. He showed me the benefits and the endless networking opportunities that could provide me with career options once I graduate, which is why I decided to join the chapter at CU Denver.
What are your career aspirations?
After completing my education, I plan to work in the aerospace industry. If you look at history, human beings first used horses to travel, then cars, followed by learning how to maneuver the air with airplanes. I’m fascinated by the fact that we’re able to conquer the wind. As a kid, I dreamed of flying, and now, this will come true.