Inspire, Fall/Winter 2010

Connected by Design by Vicky Fang, Ph.D. When I joined Cedarville’s engineering faculty in 2004, I was the only female faculty member in the department. Though I was outnumbered in a field of study dominated by men, I felt honored to be in my position. With very few female students enrolled in Cedarville’s engineering program, I knew God had great things in store for me — and many things for me to accomplish. Cedarville’s enrollment statistics reflect the nationally low enrollment and retention rates among female engineers. Approximately 25 percent of freshman men at Cedarville major in engineering. In contrast, fewer than 10 freshman women major in engineering. With the numbers against them, female engineering students need a resource for support and encouragement. Overcoming Isolation In an academic area with so little gender diversity, female students face isolation and loss of academic self-confidence in many of their classes. These women often have to modify their ways of thinking, learning, and working to reflect a masculine point of view. On a practical level, our male students have an advantage in the residence halls. They can walk down the hall to find a classmate when they need help with their coursework. Without that opportunity for collaboration, our female students tend to work independently to solve homework problems. I saw women gifted in engineering, yet their department offered no female guidance. I also saw a staggeringly low retention rate. My heart was burdened to do something to help these women develop their talents. With the support of Cedarville’s engineering program, we established a Cedarville chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to encourage our female students to grow, succeed, and use their skills for the glory of God. SWE is a national organization that empowers women to achieve their full potential as professional engineers and leaders in the field. The organization increases awareness of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving quality of life and demonstrating the value of diversity. Since our SWE chapter formed in fall 2004, it has made a substantial impact on students’ lives. I gladly accepted the responsibility to advise this women’s organization. I knew that I could relate to obstacles these young women were facing and effectively encourage and support them in their studies. facul ty voi ce Female students in the engineering and computer science department find the support and encouragement they need in a special student organization. 42 fall/winter 2010