In the bustling halls of the University of Miami College of Engineering, you'll likely cross paths with Kaylee Diaz and other Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) members. Diaz is a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering with a concentration in electrical engineering and the president of the University’s SHPE chapter.
For Diaz, SHPE stands as a beacon of empowerment in the landscape of education and professional development.
The University chapter promotes diversity and inclusivity by welcoming all those interested in pursuing a STEM career. Founded on the principles of supporting students who strive to improve their skills for success in employment, SHPE has become a community for STEM students on campus.
From her early years, Diaz was fascinated with engineering and was a member of the robotics club starting in elementary school.
Being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis catapulted her passion for engineering, eventually intertwining her interest with the medical industry. This is why Diaz hopes to develop medical devices in the future.
When asked why she pursued a leadership role in the organization, Diaz shared, “I wanted to see change [in SHPE], so I figured why not be the one to drive the change.”
SHPE has flourished under her leadership, recognized with the Toppel Career Center’s Top Student Organization Award and the Silver Chapter Award from SHPE’s national chapter. But beyond accolades, one of Diaz’s goals this year is to expand the organization’s social events to ensure a focus on fostering interpersonal connections.
An annual SHPE National Convention guides its members toward success, offering networking opportunities and “workshops led by industry giants like Boeing and Medtronic.”
Members begin to prepare months in advance, working on “elevator pitches, interview role-play and tips, and a tailored resume-building workshop specifically for the STEM industry,” said Diaz.
The University chapter fosters partnerships with organizations, both on- and off-campus, utilizing career fairs and platforms like LinkedIn to strengthen connections within the engineering community to help lead its members through these workshops.
The four-day convention is a platform for students to connect with premium sponsors, seek internships, participate in competitions, and explore career opportunities.
“There is so much going on that you have to sit down and prioritize what you want to attend,” said Diaz.
She explained that during the career fair portion of the convention, companies carry out on-site interviews for internships with students whose resumes caught their attention. Diaz's personal experience exemplifies the impact of attending the annual event.
She and other members of the University’s SHPE chapter attended in November and secured interviews with different companies by submitting their resumes beforehand and she was “screened before even setting foot at conference.” She happily shared that she landed an internship with Eli Lilly this summer.
“People are willing to take a chance on you, if you are willing to take a chance on yourself,” she added.
Despite being “underestimated as a Hispanic woman in STEM,” she emphasized the importance of self-belief, resilience, and community.
“SHPE is that space where you can put aside the competition within the industry and find community and the support needed,” Diaz said.
