On March 1, future and current female engineering students, along with industry professionals, gathered at Old Dominion University for the annual Women Excelling in Engineering (WE2) event.
Established by the Batten College of Engineering and Technology in 2018, WE2 connects aspiring female engineers with successful professional engineers, fostering mentorship and guidance in a male-majority industry.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), women make up only 17% of the workforce in architecture and engineering occupations.
Students could choose from two panels: How to Succeed in College and Career Readiness. A keynote panel, Managing a Successful Engineering Career, followed.
Student panel topics included student engagement, preventing burnout, crafting resumes and securing internships.
Keynote panel discussions included leadership development, graduate school considerations, mentorships and career advancement strategies.
Whitney DiGiantommaso, a transit planner at Kimley-Horn and Associates, and registered Professional Engineer (PE), discussed the importance of self-care.
“As women, we tend to want to do really well,” she said. “But you may have multiple things that you are doing in your life at different times—you might be a mother, you might be working, you might be a wife.”
“Your job is just a job–it’s not your life,” she added.