Andrea Godoy, a biomedical engineering junior, was among a group of students chosen to visit Washington, D.C. and meet with members of Congress to discuss increasing Hispanic representation in STEM fields. The trip was organized by SHPE, the largest association in the country for Hispanics in STEM.
The Hill Day discussions with members of Congress focused on the importance of high-quality K-12 STEM programs, scholarships, mentorships, and professional development opportunities to bridge the gap between Hispanics and jobs in engineering. While Hispanic workers make up 17% of total employment across all occupations, only 8% of them work in STEM fields.
Godoy shared that her background as a first-generation college student and her involvement with SHPE deeply resonated during the discussions on Capitol Hill, fostering a genuine connection that enriched the dialogue about potential legislative measures to support Hispanic STEM students.
Reflecting on her journey from Caracas, Venezuela to the United States in 2011, Godoy said, "If you had told me that I would get the chance to share my immigrant story, my family's hardships and successes while pursuing my engineering degree at a national level like this, I would have never believed you. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, and representing SHPE members across the country is a responsibility I do not take lightly."
After a successful briefing last April, hosted by the Office of Public Engagement at the White House on “Building the Next Generation of Hispanic Leaders in STEM”; this year's event marked itself as the first of many follow-ups to that meeting. Godoy, a proud and accomplished Venezuelan American left the event with a sense of pride and motivation to continue advocating for creating a pathway for Hispanics in engineering.
"I am excited to continue being a role model and mentor to Hispanics, demonstrating that we not only can, but deserve to be in leadership positions all throughout STEM," Godoy concluded.
