Heya! My name is Jane Keth and I’m one of the Social Media officers for this upcoming school year. I will be entering my sophomore year as a chemical engineering major this fall. One of my favorite memories from SWE is the WE Local Conference that I attended with seven other members. It was an exciting experience because I was able to bond with the other members while also learning about graduate school. I can’t wait to capture and share more of these memories with the community through social media once the school year starts! One of my goals this year is to expand SWE’s influence to more underclassmen! Since it is the summer, I have been keeping myself busy by taking Physics 2. In my free time I have been listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, playing chess, and practicing my violin!​

Fun fact: I have played the violin for ten years!

Because of COVID-19, many of my original summer plans were cancelled. However, I am using this summer to reflect on myself and my goals so that I can hit the ground running once school starts again! I am proud to be a part of SWE because it has offered many opportunities to grow as a student in the STEM field! With all of the difficulties that are surfacing in our society right now, I encourage you to reach out to your friends and family. If you need someone to talk to, I am almost always available through email kethj@unm.edu. It is important that we, the upcoming generation, stay informed and involved in politics and the scientific community. Stay safe and have a SWE-et summer!

Hi! I am Isabella Obermeier, one of the Design Project Chairs for this upcoming school year. I am a senior in computer engineering with double minors in Chinese language and honors interdisciplinary studies. I find that the most rewarding aspect of SWE is that I can take part in various outreach events that allow middle and high school students to become interested in STEM at a young age. Not only does the engagement with these students foster a positive connection with STEM, but also enables young women to see themselves represented in higher education. I hope SWE can continue to support and inspire young women to pursue STEM through similar events throughout the year. My personal goal for this upcoming year is to establish another benefit of SWE through the Design Project. I look forward to seeing how students from different experience levels work together to solve problems and create a novel solution.

Similar to my role in SWE, my summer will be mostly filled with working on research proposals for both the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and National Security Studies Program at UNM. Considering the risk associated with COVID-19, I hope I can still travel this summer, especially through weekend or day trips around NM and experience some local adventure during my last year at UNM!

Hi everyone! My name is Lauren Ostermann.  I’m studying Chemical Engineering and Spanish and will be entering my senior year this fall.  I have participated in SWE for the last two years and am excited to further my involvement as one of the outreach co-chairs.  In my free time I love to take care of my large collection of plants, keep bees with my grandmother, and take my sweet puppy on tons of hikes!  Here’s a photo of me and my tired girl after a long walk along the river.

I have met so many intelligent and driven women in SWE which is why I am so excited to be one of the outreach co-chairs.  Not only will I get to know all our members better, but I will also be able to plan The Art of Science.  The Art of Science is one of our biggest events of the year where we empower young girls and give them an opportunity to explore how fun science and engineering can be.  Last year’s Art of Science is my favorite SWE memory and the reason I wanted to be one of the outreach co-chairs.  The girls were so creative and excited so I can’t wait to come up with more fun activities for them.  My second favorite memory from SWE was last semester’s Galantine’s Day. At the end of our meeting we got to craft little galantines for everyone and hang out.  It was a ton of fun and you could feel the SWE-ster love!

Hi there! My name is Katherine Sanchez, and I am currently the community co-chair for the UNM SWE board. I am majoring in mechanical engineering and will be starting my third year at UNM this fall. This summer, I plan on taking a few classes. I also hope I can find some time to pursue my hobbies, such as crocheting, fishing and hiking with my dogs over the next few weeks!

Here is a photo of me ice fishing at Fenton Lake back in February. Photo Credit to the UNM Fishing Club

My favorite experience with SWE has to be going to the annual conference this past fall in Anaheim, California. There, I had the opportunity to network with other SWE members across the country. I also was able to learn about companies I had not heard about before and listen to various emotionally moving presentations. Most importantly, I was able to form closer bonds with my SWE-sters. I am most excited for planning SWE’s future events. Although our work may be placed into an online setting for some time due to COVID-19, we will continue to pursue our goals with the same amount of excitement and perseverance! I am proud to be a part of this wonderful group of individuals who inspire me each day.