Bridging the engineering gender gap

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Society of Women Engineers President Allison Whitney (center) chats with fellow officers Dora De Melo (left) and Manasa Thada.

Despite gradual improvement over the past decade, women remain underrepresented in the engineering profession worldwide. In true problem-solving fashion, several alumni are partnering with the College of Engineering to help close the gender gap and pave the way for future women engineers.

It’s an issue that hits close to home for chemical engineering alumna Wendy McCall ’98. When she first entered the workforce after graduation, she recalls a very different environment than the one she enjoys today.

“When I started my career, I spent several years working in manufacturing-related industries, and they weren’t particularly friendly places for women at that time,” said McCall. “I had a couple of early career experiences where I was either the only woman or one of a small handful of women at the plant.”

Women supporting women

Those experiences were part of what inspired McCall to lend her support to young women as they pursue their academic and career dreams at Ohio State. In 2018 she established the Women in Engineering Buckeye Scholarship, which provides annual support to two female students who are also members of Women in Engineering, the college’s multi-faceted program to increase recruitment and retention. Utilizing her company’s gift matching program allowed her to multiply the impact of her gift. Her long-term goal is to recruit fellow engineering alumnae to grow the fund and support more students.

Along with easing the financial burden of paying for college, McCall hopes her scholarship will help students feel like they have someone in their corner.

“I think it’s important that women support women, especially new women coming into the workforce. We need to help mentor, coach and create a place for them,” she said.

For current recipient Allison Whitney ’20, McCall’s support has been inspirational.

“It makes you feel like you have a cheerleader rooting for you,” said the materials science and engineering major. In addition to giving her a mentor, the scholarship enabled Whitney to reduce her work hours so she could devote more time to her research and take a leadership role in Ohio State’s Society of Women Engineers. She’ll serve as president of the organization this year, helping empower other women to achieve their full potential as engineers and leaders.

“No matter where I find myself in the future, I hope to pass along what Wendy has given to me and support other people on their education journey,” said Whitney.

Creating opportunities

Robin Marowitz and Dounia Ogle pictured with Dean David Williams
Robin Marowitz (left) and Dounia Ogle pictured with Dean David Williams.

Recent graduates Robyn Marowitz and Dounia Ogle (industrial and systems engineering ’18) hope to make a similar impact on future women engineers. During their senior year, they created a fund that will award three scholarships each year to support female engineering undergraduates. The first recipients will be chosen for the 2019-20 academic year.

“We both felt a huge impact that scholarships made in our college career and we hope that the recipients of this scholarship are able to devote more time to excelling in schoolwork, exploring career options, reaching their full creative potential and being fully immersed in the college experience,” said Ogle. “It is often difficult being a woman in engineering, and creating these opportunities we hope will support and motivate young women to pursue STEM majors.”

Shaping the future

Companies and private foundations also are interested in balancing the gender scales in engineering. A recent $270,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation’s Clare Boothe Luce Program will help recruit and retain high-achieving female doctoral students in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The grant will fund two graduate fellowships, providing two years of financial support, mentoring and professional development for recipients. Ohio State will fund two additional fellowships as part of its commitment to increasing the number of women pursuing STEM careers.

And with the help of committed Buckeyes who pay forward, the university is building a strong and supportive community for the women engineers of today and tomorrow.

“My hope is that more young girls are inspired to graduate college with STEM degrees and aren’t intimidated by the male-dominant field,” said Ogle. “It’s important for women to be equally represented and have the opportunity to bring different perspectives to companies at the forefront of the digital revolution.” 

Make a gift to support future women engineers at Ohio State. 

by Meggie Biss, College of Engineering Communications | biss.11@osu.edu