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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering (SOE) Dean Hasan Sevim has joined with more than 100 deans nationwide committing to enhance diversity and inclusion in engineering education. Sevim made the pledge on behalf of the SIUE SOE by signing a Diversity Initiative Letter spearheaded by the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).

The ASEE announced its commitment in conjunction with Tuesday’s first-ever White House Demo Day. The special event focused on inclusive entrepreneurship and showcased innovations from a diverse community of startup founders.

“In an ever increasing competitive world, the countries who emphasize diversity and inclusion in innovation and entrepreneurship will be the leaders,” Sevim said.  “The initiative of the White House, and partnership with ASEE to accomplish the set goals, is quite timely. The SOE has been a partner of various organizations that fosters innovation for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Metro St. Louis area. We will intensify our efforts under the White House – ASEE initiative.”

ASEE asserts that engineering is at the core of all innovation and is the most important discipline to address current and emerging challenges in the U.S. and on a global scale.

“The SOE educates its students to be able to function not only nationally but also globally,” added Cem Karacal, associate dean and PhD program director in the SOE.  “One can accomplish this goal, if the student population and faculty are diverse and the School’s culture is inclusive.  We have been working hard to provide such an environment to our students.“

As part of this designation, the SIUE SOE will:

• Develop a diversity plan for engineering programs
• Commit to at least one K-12 or community college pipeline activity aimed at increasing the diversity and inclusiveness of the engineering student body at SIUE
• Cultivate strong partnerships between research-intensive engineering schools and non-PhD granting engineering schools serving populations underrepresented in the field
• Commit to the development and implementation of proactive strategies to increase the representation of women and underrepresented minorities in the School’s faculty

“The SOE has been practicing the recommended programs for a long time,” Sevim said. “Now, we will formalize our efforts under the ASEE’s umbrella. We enthusiastically support the activities of student chapters such as National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). We encourage students from underrepresented groups to participate in our summer introduction to engineering programs and we support them through industry sponsored scholarships.”

The SIUE School of Engineering offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable engineering programs in the St. Louis region with eight undergraduate degrees, five master’s degrees and a cooperative doctoral program, all housed in a state-of-the-art facility. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities, which often turn into permanent employment. All undergraduate programs are accredited by their respective accreditation agencies.

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Photo:  SIUE School of Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim.