As Women’s History Month comes to a close, three extraordinary women of the department’s External Advisory Board (EAB) share what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated field.

The board serves as a sounding board for all things MAE to ensure the department is doing three main things for students. Those three areas are: program evaluation, outreach and development.

Program evaluation. External advisory board members are typically, but not always, graduates of the UF MAE program and are professionals out in the real world in a variety of roles that leverage their perspectives with departmental matters. Think TSA at airports, but the board clears that the MAE program is appropriately preparing students for graduation and success in the post-graduate world. No sharp objects or liquids over 4oz!

Advocacy. EAB members serve as advocates for students for internship and job opportunities, mentorship networks, and more. They are the conduits out to the real world.

Development. Funding for public institutions mainly come from three different sources: the state, grants and contracts and philanthropy. The EAB plays a role in the philanthropic aspect by engaging companies and individuals who are interested in supporting the UF MAE programs. Diversity within the EAB is vital to the department as it allows for a variety of perspectives and well-informed opinions to serve as resources when making decisions that affect the department of Mechanical and Aerospace engineering.