The COE’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion at Oregon State University is committed to increasing the number of women and underrepresented students pursuing and completing degrees and careers in engineering, while fostering their advancement, success, and sense of community on campus. We create activities and initiatives that provide students with:
The Center for Diversity & Inclusion also works and advocates for an inclusive and equitable environment at the COE, by working with other programs and units in the college to ensure adequate policies and practices are implemented.
The COE’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion will be recognized by the college as an engaged, collaborative, and socially just community that is known for its work to empower students from diverse backgrounds through community and academic engagement.
In 2015, the College of Engineering (COE) adopted the Creating a better future – A strategic plan for the Oregon State University College of Engineering 2015-2020. The plan centers around four strategic goals, the first of which states, “Become a recognized model as an inclusive and collaborative community.” With this plan in place, COE’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion was rebranded with its new name in fall 2018 (it was previously known as the Women & Minorities in Engineering Center) and broadened its audience to include additional underserved students in engineering.
Additionally, the Center for Diversity & Inclusion also aligns with Oregon State’s first comprehensive diversity strategic plan, Innovate & Integrate: Plan for Inclusive Excellence, launched in 2018. The Center will help advance two of the five goals it presents, “Improve recruitment of students and employees from underrepresented communities”, and “Create an inclusive university climate to support the retention and success of all students and employees”.
Recruitment & Diversity Initiatives Coordinator
As the leader of the College of Engineering’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion, Sahid strives to provide students with the resources, environment, and support in order to thrive in engineering. She has vast experience in developing K-12 engineering programs for underrepresented students in STEM, has taught courses in Engineering for Social Justice, and is passionate about promoting and advocating for equity in engineering.
Center for Diversity & Inclusion Student Intern
Sneha is an Industrial Engineering undergraduate student focusing on Business & Entrepreneurship. She works with various facets of the College of Engineering, such as Ambassadors and Engineering Student Council, to execute engineering student life and diversity & inclusion initiatives. As Intern in the Center for Diversity & Inclusion, Sneha supports the office by engaging underrepresented students through social media, email, and events, collaborating with student organizations and cultural centers on campus, and working on various projects to highlight the importance of diversity & inclusion in engineering.
