Engineer your future: A new course on how to succeed as a woman in engineering
Engineer your future: A new course on how to succeed as a woman in engineering
“Neither of my parents were engineers, so it’s been really valuable to learn from these women who experienced the same thing I’m experiencing right now,” said Jenna Carter, senior in mechanical engineering.
The course, designed for mechanical engineering juniors and seniors, is taught by three respected women from the School of Mechanical Engineering: Beth Hess, Associate Professor of Engineering Practice and Assistant Head of Undergraduate Student Well-Being; Julia King, Chief of Staff and Director of Industrial Experience; and Miranda Baer, Senior Academic Advisor. Each brings her own unique experiences to the class.
The curriculum follows the book, She Engineers, written by Stephanie Slocum, Founder and CEO of Engineers Rising LLC. The book was written to help female engineers outsmart bias, unlock their potential, and create the engineering career of their dreams. Each chapter walks readers through a different topic, providing them the opportunity to complete related activities and achieve goals highlighted that chapter.
For example, one of the chapters titled “Work and Life as a Female Engineer” discusses work life balance, getting married, understanding leave policies, and having kids. During class, each instructor shared their experience after graduating, from starting their first job to meeting their partner and expanding their families. They each gave advice on balancing work and life and were honest about it being hard, also sharing their struggles. Students had the opportunity to submit questions prior to class while also getting the chance to ask questions in class.
“They give us advice and share their personal experiences,” said Carter. “Because of that, it makes it feel more like a mentorship rather than a class.”
“This class has been a chance to build a network of women in mechanical engineering,” said Ella Richardson, senior in mechanical engineering. “It’s been so nice to think about the bigger picture and to learn about what we can bring to engineering.”
"This class gave us a space to be ourselves and recognize our worth, strength, and power as women in engineering," said Emma Bedwell, junior in mechanical engineering.
The class has also received visits from prominent female alumni of Purdue ME, including Erin Murphy (BSME ’94). “These students’ presentations were nothing short of professional caliber!” Murphy said. “I was incredibly impressed. The experiences and curriculum at Purdue is something special. These women are in a wonderful position to share insights with others and step into leadership roles moving forward.”
The course provides students with the opportunity to identify and leverage their strengths and values, enhance their communication, leadership and teamwork skills, and understand the importance of networking and building relationships. The course also touches on the bias many women in engineering face and provides students with strategies to overcome it and how to advocate for themselves.
Purdue has the largest mechanical engineering school in the country, with the number of female students now numbering 557 in the undergraduate program alone. With the continuous rise of female enrollment in engineering, this class is designed to support and encourage women while providing them with guidance tailored to the female experience. Women’s voices are being heard more prominently at Purdue Mechanical Engineering, with the founding of the Women in Mechanical Engineering student group and the Women in Motorsports Council.
However, the class is open to all students, not just women.
“It’s been really informative to learn about the challenges women face and to discover how I can be an ally and support my female peers,” said Joey Bellofatto, senior in mechanical engineering. “I hope more men take the class and learn how to create a more inclusive environment.”
The class hasn’t just been rewarding for the students, it’s also had an impact on the instructors.
“Preparing for and teaching this class has been the highlight of my week,” said King. “It has been a privilege to learn and grow alongside these students and instructors. We are excited to incorporate student feedback to further improve this course and offer an even better student experience in the Spring 2026 semester.”
Source: Julia King, juliaking@purdue.edu
Writer: Julia Davis, juliadavis@purdue.edu