Program diversifies OSU Engineering

Alex Moseley Engineering: it's not just a guy thing. Not at Oregon State University.

With the support of many corporate and foundation partners, OSU's Women and Minorities in Engineering Program reaches out to traditionally underrepresented populations — including students from rural areas and people of color — and encourages their participation in this critical field.

For a great example, look no further than Alexandria Moseley, a junior working toward a double degree in Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing Engineering. As a high school student in Newberg, Moseley participated in OSU's SESEY (Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth) program, spending a week on campus exploring the world of engineering. Today she is manager of the College of Engineering's Student Ambassador Team — reaching out, in turn, to students following her. (She's pictured leading a campus tour for prospective students.) "I really enjoy it," she says.

Recipient of a variety of scholarships including the Alfred J. Trommershausen Scholarship, the James and Nancy Johnson Scholarship, plus the elite Director's Scholarship from the Society of Manufacturing Engineering Education Foundation, Moseley notes how necessary it is for the engineering field to attract diverse populations.

"One of the stories I tell as an ambassador is about the development of iPhones," she says. "At first, they had a lot of problems with the touch screens because they wouldn't work for women with long fingernails. The engineers hadn't thought of that. It illustrates how important it is to have people from different perspectives on your design team. You have to imagine how different the world would be if more women were involved in engineering."

Beyond student recruitment, the Women and Minorities in Engineering Program focuses on improving student retention, offering mentoring programs and a strong peer support system. It also facilitates opportunities for research and work experience. OSU's College of Engineering is ranked fourth in the nation for its number of women professors at Ph.D. granting institutions.

Contributors to the Women and Minorities in Engineering Program in the last few years include the Bechtel Group Foundation, Blount International, Boeing Company, Intel, Symantec, and the Tektronix Foundation.

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