Congratulations to our FY23 Member of the Year!

The SWE-San Diego Member of the Year Award honors a female identifying SWE-San Diego professional member who has consistently engaged with SWE-San Diego activities over the past year, demonstrated leadership excellence and has community involvement.

Dr. Tracy Nguyen is recognized as an esteemed champion of STEM diversity and a fervent advocate for outreach, embodying a deep commitment to SWE’s mission. Since joining SWE-SD in 2020, she has made significant contributions as the Outreach Chair for FY22 and FY23, as well as serving as a dedicated SWE Counselor for various clubs. Through the past year, her active engagement in SWE-SD and her extensive community involvement have greatly enhanced the reputation and impact of SWE-SD. As she assumes the role of Vice President on the Executive Council for FY24, Dr. Nguyen demonstrates unwavering dedication to leadership excellence.

Congratulations to our FY23 Outstanding Engineer!

The SWE-San Diego Outstanding Engineer Award honors a local (San Diego County) female identifying person who has been actively engaged in an engineering or technology profession, has demonstrated outstanding technical excellence, and has at least fifteen years of cumulative engineering experience.

Dr. Kiana Aran, Keck Institute biomedical engineering professor, is the co-founder of Cardeabio – developing Abio-integrated electronic chips for precision medicine - and CRISPR QC. A recipient of the National Institute of Health postdoc fellowship, she is a consultant of Drug Delivery and Medical Diagnostics for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Aran is the founder of the Aran Nebula nonprofit which serves to promote women in engineering leadership roles.

Congratulations to our FY23 Distinguished New Engineer!

The SWE-San Diego Distinguished New Engineer Award honors a female identifying SWE-San Diego professional member who has been actively engaged in an engineering or technology profession, demonstrated outstanding technical performance, leadership in SWE-San Diego and the community in the first ten years of her career.

Gretchell Hiraldo Martinez’s leadership, dedication, and passion have made significant contributions as a professional engineer at Solar Turbines and an active volunteer with the SWE San Diego chapter as well as the local community. Gretchell’s goal is to continue to grow as a professional and be an inspiration to the next generation of engineers.

Congratulations to our FY23 Outreach Volunteer of the Year!

The SWE-San Diego Outreach Volunteer of the Year Award honors a  female identifying SWE-San Diego professional member who has been  actively engaged in the advancement of Science, Technology,  Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields as a desirable career option  for K-12 girls.

Mirella Cruz Trinidad is a San Diego-based Mechanical Engineer with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Irvine and professional experience in Distribution Line Design at Cal Engineering Solutions. She is also the FY22 & FY23 SWE-SD Outreach Committee Co-Chair and an advocate for gender equity and diverse representation in STEM, promoting STEM education by offering early exposure to engineering careers. Mirella shares her experiences with her YMCA community and local middle school robotics teams.

Joel Foust has been the engineering teacher, FRC advisor, and advisor for numerous student clubs, including SWENext, at EHS for the last 11 years. He lives in the Eastlake community with his wife Grace, a high school counselor, and their two children who have grown up in the local school system. In addition to his classroom, team, and club activities, Joel enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and golfing.

Dr. Tobey Tam, Mesa Verde Middle School SWENext Club Faculty Advisor, is a passionate math and science teacher. She is a biotech, computer programming, and engineering role model who creates student excitement through her high-tech science curriculum and after school workshops. She has inspired many students through Girl Scouts, First Robotics and restoration projects. Dr. Tam has left a lasting impact introducing many school teams to afterschool global tech competitions and SWENext.

Congratulations to our FY23 Honorary Service Award!

The SWE-San Diego Honorary Service Award is awarded to an individual who has historically been a strong force and is actively engaged in planning and volunteering of SWE-San Diego's events and is a passionate advocate for SWE's mission.

As a passionate practitioner and researcher interested in improving female engagement and retention in engineering and technology, Mary "Dr. Mimi" Isaac has volunteered tirelessly with SWE San Diego and numerous other organizations since arriving in San Diego in 2010.  An architect of the Society of Women Engineers “Invent it. Build it.” program delivered to over 2,500 girls, Dr. Mimi now spearheads the American Association of University Women Tech Trek summer camp heading into year 25 with over 14,000 graduates. With countless hours dedicated to education and addressing gender parity and inequality of engineering and technology, Dr. Mimi stands as an inspiring force for change, leaving an indelible impact on our journey toward a more equitable society.

Congratulations to our FY23 Diversity Champion - Individual!

The SWE-San Diego Diversity Champion Award honors a local (San  Diego County) individual who have been actively engaged in the  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for women in STEM and has consistently  been an advocate for SWE’s Mission: 

• Empowering women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders 

• Expanding the image of engineering and technology profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life 

• Demonstrating the value of diversity and inclusion. 

Dr. Tracy Nguyen is the SWE San Diego Professional Section Outreach Chair for FY22 & FY23 and an active member of the SWE Outreach Committee since 2020. Although a practicing optometrist and informal educator, she is a champion of STEM Diversity and passionate outreach advocate who wholeheartedly embraces SWE’s mission and vision of empowering women to reach their full potential in engineering careers and achieve parity and equity. Tracy’s support of SWE started from her parental desire to support her oldest daughter in her engineering journey. She is a SWE Counselor for numerous SWENext Clubs globally and mentor for FIRST Robotics teams. Instrumental in starting over 25 SWENext Clubs, she is one of SWENext strongest advocates.

Congratulations to our FY23 Diversity Champion - Company!

The SWE-San Diego Diversity Champion Award honors a local (San  Diego County) company that has been actively engaged in the Diversity,  Equity and Inclusion for women in STEM and has consistently been an  advocate for SWE’s Mission:

• Empowering women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders 

• Expanding the image of engineering and technology profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life 

• Demonstrating the value of diversity and inclusion 

With nearly 40,000 employees worldwide, ASML is committed to diversity and inclusion because they recognize that success is driven by unique and diverse teams. ASML has a community engagement program focused on STEM education, which is evident through their STEM outreach efforts throughout the year. The company also has a goal to continue to build, develop and retain a diverse talent pipeline by increasing representation, advancement and retention of historically underrepresented groups.