List SWE leadership positions you have held and describe your contributions. (Include section, regional and national leadership positions:
08-09 Rice University SWE Historian - Recorded events, such as Girl Scout Day, general meetings, Evening With Industy, and the SWE National Conference participation. 09-10 Rice University SWE Mentorship Committee Chair - Arranged professionals from engineering industry and colleges. - Organized overall mentoring program and events, such as the Mentors Social. Throughout my experience with Rice SWE, I have delivered the value of SWE to Rice community with variety of activities and volunteering events, such as Professional Development, Evening With Industry, Girl Scout Day and What is the Best Engineering Major for You. I also participated in the regional and national conferences and interacted with SWE members from other regions.
List other leadership positions you have held and describe your contributions:
Engineers Without Boarders (EWB)-India, Student Engineer Volunteer, Fall 2009 – Present - Initiated the partnership with EWB-India to technically and financially support the Krushi Project: building solar energy facilities for the street children’s rehabilitation home in Hyderabad. - Fundraise to support the project and two Rice students’ trip to India. - Prepare to found EWB-India team at Rice University. Peer International Advisor, Rice University, Fall 2009 - Present - Advertising various study abroad activities to students. - Coordinated cultural events, such as International Movie Nights. -Volunteered for International Education Week and Study Abroad Fair. Teaching Assistant, Center for the Study of Languages at Rice University, Fall 2008 - Led two hours of Korean tutorial sessions per week and coordinated various engaging methods such as movie showing and visiting Koreatown. - Promoted the visibility of Korean language and culture via Korean Lunch Table and Language Day.
What would you bring to the position of RCR, RCNE or RCS?
Diversity is becoming more and more important. Especially in the engineering industry, I could observe that there are many people with various ethnic backgrounds. It is also visible these days that the number of companies having international projects or partners is increasing. With my experience in the US, Korea, India and more, I could bring the diversity to SWE and could be more easily involved in the engineers’ society. Since when I first arrived in the US, I have experienced the development in my leadership and engineering skills. Not only I could positively influence regional collegiate SWE members with my previous experience with Rice SWE activities, but I could also share my own learning experience. Also, I have not only interacted with the industry, but have advanced academic experience based on my research projects. When I attended the National Conference last year, I could see the increased interest in graduate level education among undergraduate students and SWE also had more workshops and booths with the representatives from graduate schools. It is true that collegiate members have two big options after graduation and I would actively interact with people with those different preferences.
Why do you want to be an RCR/RCCE/RCS?
I have been working with SWE since my freshman year. When I first attended SWE Region C Conference in San Antonio, the Rice SWE Vice-president drove with me. Since we were the only ones from Rice who attended the conference, I could listen to a lot of her stories throughout her four years at Rice and SWE. She told me that SWE made her engineering studies more fulfilling and prepared for her future career by showing the professional engineers world, which not many college students can see before their graduation. Moreover, during the whole conference, I could actually understand what she meant; There were very helpful information and experience that I could never have at school. It was the first inspiration for me to become more involved in SWE. The National Conference was different from the Regional Conference. The scale was, of course, the first visible one, but I found that the culture was also very different. The National Conference has bigger career fair and more workshops, but I felt that the regional conference could be very helpful for college students since it allows more personal interactions. Moreover, that is where SWE could attract more people to the National conference and further involvement. With increased leadership skills and confidence throughout my involvement with Rice SWE, I want to take a bigger responsibility in regional level which I find as important as national level. Working with Rice SWE, I found that I could actually make a difference in my community. This time, I want to bring a positive effect on Region C SWE as RCS, sharing my experience with other collegiate and professional members.
What does SWE mean to you?
Working with SWE, I could feel my growth as an engineer and a leader. At SWE conferences, I met many enthusiastic women engineers who could show me the direction to become a successful engineer not only with their workshops, but even with very casual conversations. I could apply the leadership and communication skills when I came back to Rice. I more confidently coordinated and led various on campus activities, such as professional development sessions and the Girl Scout Day. I was raised in South Korea and was very shy because of the language and cultural barriers that I had when I first arrived in the US; I could not imagine myself taking such leadership position. I was very surprised to see myself standing in front of people to lead huge events. Also, it made me very delighted that I could contribute to the Rice community with SWE. Those experiences brought me more interactions with people and I could feel that they also have been positively affecting me. I love the SWE people who have been working with me through my college life. I really appreciate that SWE brought me those people who showed me the real teamwork and learning experiences, which have induced my growth.
How many SWE conferences have you attended?
Region:1 / Annual: 2
What are your interests outside of SWE?
Study, research, work and volunteer abroad experiences Cultural exchange and language education Robotics Visual arts, industrial design.
