Dayton Engineer

Diversity in the workplace is something all businesses should strive for. Not only does diversity bring different experiences and ideas together, but diversity also sparks creativity in the individual. Working with people from different backgrounds or cultures requires individuals to break out of their shells, meet new people, and acquire new mindsets. This helps teams look at problems from a different point of view and create fresh, unique solutions.

On September 15th, the Diversity in Engineering Center at the University of Dayton partnered with SWE (Society of Women Engineers), NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) and SASE (Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers) to host a meet and greet with employers who are committed to diversity.

The event was similar to a mini career fair with over a dozen companies and their recruiters in attendance. Some of these companies included Intel, Go Sustainable Energy, Fifth Third Bank and GE Aerospace. Ultimately, the Meet and Greet allowed the diversity and minority students time to talk to possible new employers, schedule interviews or practice professional conversation.

Some of the women in attendance, both students and recruiters, were asked to share a little about their experience with diversity in the workplace, their journey or plans for the future.

Milena Walwer, an engineer at Go Sustainable Energy is a UD alumna. She graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a minor in sustainability, energy, and the environment. In 2018, she came back to UD to earn a master’s degree in renewable and clean energy and mechanical engineering. She loves to see the progress of the campus when coming to UD to recruit and is energized by the positive energy the students have. When recruiting, she strives to diversify and support the students in achieving their goals.

Sarah West graduated from UD this past spring in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in communication management. She now works as a junior technical recruiter at Radiance Technologies. Coming back to UD so soon after her graduation is very enjoyable for her. She is eager to help students find their success and encourages them to join the team at Radiance Technologies that she talked so highly about.

Liz Goettke is a sophomore at UD studying mechanical engineering and is a representative of SWE. She attended the meet and greet to explore possible internship or co-op opportunities with MTSI and Intel. Her preparation for these two companies, however, didn’t stop her from expanding her possibilities by meeting recruiters for other companies and keeping her options open.

Christine Eichhold holds a leadership role in software engineering at Fifth Third Bank, where she adores her work. When coming to UD to recruit, she enjoys meeting the students who will “one day rule our world”, as she puts it. As a UD alumna, she loves to come back to see the progress of the campus and is always excited to meet up with the women she knew during her college experience who are now UD professors.

Maya Pelshaw is a freshman studying mechanical engineering. Being her first semester at UD, it’s been stressful to adjust to a new environment, however, she is already working hard to overcome these obstacles that come with change. By coming to the meet and greet, she hoped to get her name out and meet possible employers. She is also looking to get a head start on finding a potential co-op for her later years at UD.

Jenna Anderson, a junior studying civil engineering, is very involved on campus. She is the vice president of SWE and recently visited Bolivia with the Ethos Center. She came to the meet and greet to represent these two clubs and talk to the students currently looking for job opportunities. She was interested in learning what diversity means to the companies and students in attendance.