Society of Women Engineers members represent UA at WE25 in New Orleans
UA SWE students pause for a photo in New Orleans while attending WE25, the Society of Women Engineers’ annual conference.
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) student organization from The University of Akron (UA) recently attended WE25 in New Orleans, La., held Oct. 23–25. As the largest gathering of women engineers in the world, the conference provided valuable opportunities for professional growth, industry engagement and community building.
Throughout the three-day event, SWE members connected with industry leaders, explored career pathways, and gained exposure to emerging trends in engineering and technology. Highlights included:
- A career fair featuring more than 400 organizations, where several attendees interviewed with employers and received full-time and internship offers.
- Technical sessions focused on current and future developments across engineering and technology fields.
- Professional and personal development workshops designed to strengthen leadership, communication and career readiness.
- Networking and community events that fostered meaningful connections with peers and professionals nationwide.
This year’s theme, “Embrace Your Story,” emphasized that every engineer’s journey, background and voice matter. The message resonated strongly with attendees, inspiring reflection and growth both professionally and personally. Members shared several key takeaways:
- "Bring authenticity to every experience and continue striving for excellence."
- "Invest in personal development by staying motivated, continuing to learn and maintaining balance among academics, career and well-being. Confidence is essential — engineers know their work best."
- "Community plays a critical role in professional success, and seeing so many accomplished women in the field was both motivating and affirming."
- "Strengthening networking skills and industry awareness is invaluable, especially when inspired by leaders and peers from across the country."
- "There is no single pathway into engineering. Individual stories shape careers and contribute to a more inclusive profession."
The SWE organization returned to UA with new ideas for future programming, stronger industry relationships and renewed enthusiasm for advancing and supporting women in engineering at UA and beyond.
About the Society of Women Engineers at UA
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) UA Chapter is a student organization open to all students interested in engineering. The group supports students through workshops, training opportunities, resume reviews, business etiquette guidance and networking events. Members also attend regional and national conferences that provide additional resources, including large-scale career fairs and professional development sessions.
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