Engineering Success

By Ellen Cooke

As a child growing up in the Bronx and a first-generation Dominican American raised by a single parent, Geuris German ’22 may not have pictured himself pursuing a PhD in chemical engineering at Stony Brook University (SBU). But like fellow alumni during the past two decades, German received encouragement, support and the tools he needed to chase his dreams through SBU’s student-run Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter. 

The SHPE program set member Derek Ruilova up for success with his chosen career right after graduation this May.

The mission of SHPE (pronounced “Shep”) is to increase representation of Hispanics in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and empower all members to realize their full potential. German heard about the group from a tutor in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) office his freshman year and “it became the catalyst for all my academic and career-related accomplishments from that time forward,” he said.

German’s achievements include internships at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and SBU’s Advanced Energy Center, as well as presenting an award-winning poster at the 2022 Advanced Energy Conference. 

“SHPE advisors helped me with my résumé, taught me invaluable professional skills and were always there to answer my questions, each step of the way,” he said. “When it came time to look for real-world experience, I was pitching myself as a worthwhile candidate and I had so many companies coming to me with opportunities.”

Derek Ruilova ’23 was interested in math and physics from a really young age and knew he wanted to become an aviation engineer one day. But the Ecuadorian also suffered from “imposter syndrome,” saying he never quite felt good enough to pursue his chosen career. During his first two years at SBU, he worried about his GPA and decided to drop his double major. All that changed junior year when he listened to his older cousin and joined SHPE, where he currently serves on the extended executive board (e-board). A systems engineer and Stony Brook alumnus, Nicolle Perez ‘18, was involved in SHPE and SBU’s Society for Women Engineers and has served as a constant source of inspiration for Ruilova.

“My only regret is that I didn’t participate in SHPE sooner,” said Ruilova, who will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics and statistics this May, before beginning his career at Boeing in July as a systems engineer. Ruilova said Boeing’s offer was one of five he received at a SHPE national job fair last November.

“SHPE prepares you with preconference events, demo interviews, all the core things you need,” he said. “Because once you’re in a room with a potential employer, everything is put to the test — you’re one-on-one with them and you get to talk about yourself, not just send a résumé. So, you really need to be prepared.”

Ruilova, a first-generation student, echoed German’s sentiments. “SHPE gave me a new chance at life. I’m dreaming again and I feel like the sky’s the limit.”

SHPE in Action
German and Ruilova are just two examples of the game-changing effects SHPE has had on both Hispanic and non-Hispanic students, past and present, since a group of students brought a chapter of the association to the Stony Brook campus in 1995.

Michael Glick, coordinator of the CEAS Student Engagement area and a SHPE advisor, with members of the executive board.

It was student Carlos Menjivar who first realized there was a need for more Latino representation in engineering at Stony Brook. He and fellow student Luis A. Gomes pictured an organization that would unite, support and empower Latinos, and they founded the then Society of Hispanic Engineers to try to make that vision a reality. With support from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), they held a meeting in 1995, with Gomes as the first president. Since that time, the chapter has flourished, thanks in part to the ongoing support of CEAS; the Career Center; and current advisors such as Michael Glick, coordinator of the CEAS Student Engagement area, and Austin Giordano, a longtime SHPE member and now a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. But the true key to the club’s longevity is the group of dedicated students who make up the e-board each year.

Envisioning a world where historically underrepresented Hispanics are valued as leading scientists, mathematicians and engineers, the group’s threefold mission is to build a pipeline for new Hispanic STEM college students, help SBU STEM students manage challenges, and grow a network of alumni to support one another continuously and cultivate the next generation of Hispanics in STEM professions. All events are planned primarily by the members of the e-board.

Like so many underrepresented groups, Hispanic STEM students often suffer from ‘imposter syndrome’ because they haven’t seen people who look like them in engineering classrooms, internships or jobs. My mission is to encourage them to always strive to do better, make a big impact on Stony Brook and the overall scientific community, and believe in themselves. We want to give them transferable leadership skills and, if they question whether they belong, we want them to be able to say: ‘I know for a fact that at this university and in this program, there are people who will support me.’
 — Mike Glick, SHPE advisor

Examples of successful programs include its precollege events for high school students, leadership and career development workshops for members, and the partnership with the Career Center to host the CEAS Networking Mixer the morning of every Tech/Engineering Job & Internship Fair.

Earlier this spring, SHPE held its annual Engineering Olympics and Noche de Ciencias (Night of Science) events. A program designed to introduce high schoolers to STEM, Noche de Ciencias epitomizes the strength of Stony Brook’s relationship with Brentwood High School over the past decade.

As it does every year, SHPE also supported and collaborated with the Society for Women Engineers on “SHPEtina” events, which are hosted by women with experience in STEM fields and designed to promote female empowerment. Recent activities — some in March to celebrate Women’s History Month — included a self-defense workshop; a “Discover STEM Day” that gave 10- to 13-years-olds STEM activities and taught them about STEM careers; and “Ladies at the Top,” where a panel of women working in the STEM industry at all levels of experience shared their stories and advice.

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SBU Student Carsi Kim and Mei-Lin "Ete" Chan (right) help a high school student with a STEM project.

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Students having fun while learning during a recent STEM event.

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SHPE Secretary Adriana Salomo speaks at the Night of Science event.

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Christine Veloso from SBU's STEP and C-STEP speaks to Brentwood High School students.

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A Brentwood High School student using a 3D pen.

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Brentwood High School students work with 3D pens during the Night of Science as their SHPE Advisor Massiel Ramirez looks on.

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Kevin Cruz, SHPE president, assists a student with a project.

From Childhood Friends to E-board Leads
Current SHPE e-board members Kevin Cruz ’24, Saadat Islam ’23 and Camilo Arias ’23 are working fastidiously to maintain and enhance the legacy of SHPE. They went to school together in Brentwood, but it was their experience at Stony Brook that gave them the greatest awareness and the tools to pursue their chosen STEM fields.

The panel at the “Ladies at the Top” event held this past March.

The three spoke enthusiastically about 2023 plans to enrich the experiences of the 40 or so current members. They also shared how SHPE helped set them on the right path.

“During my first year at SBU, I thought it might be hard to make friends. In SHPE, I found a community of like-minded people who want to help and be there for you. I wanted others to have that experience too,” said Cruz, who is the current SHPE president and a civil engineering student. His own passion for engineering, he said, came from his father. “My dad was, and is, my inspiration. Coming to the U.S. from El Salvador, where he never had the opportunity to go to school, he learned English, started his own construction business and always encouraged me to get an education.”

Arias, the previous president, treasurer and current SHPE VP, introduced Cruz and many others to the benefits of the organization. 

“Our neighborhood growing up was predominantly Hispanic and we had no exposure to engineering or even colleges to attend, except when Stony Brook invited Brentwood High students to visit,” he said. “It was my first time on a college campus and I immediately saw myself spending four years there. They talked about diversity in different clubs and how to get involved. I saw inclusivity, which was very important to me.” 

Arias chose mechanical engineering, considering it “the broadest option with the most possibilities” and is currently working in an R&D co-op for a medical device company.

I was thrilled to accept and try to provide as much support as possible to a club that gives students such a wide variety of skills and an irreplaceable amount of professional development,” he said. “I have several friends and colleagues who found jobs through SHPE conferences, and helping as many students as possible through the program is a goal of mine.
—Austin Giordano, longtime SHPE member and Department of Mechanical Engineering instructional support specialist/PhD candidate

Islam is the current treasurer of SHPE and has also served as an event coordinator. Although he is not Hispanic, he said he feels connected to the culture since childhood. “All my friends were Hispanic, and it was always a big deal for me to get involved and try to make a difference. Plus, I received a lot of help with things like my résumé process and how to apply for a job.” 

Derek Ruilova ’23 with Austin Giordano, a longtime SHPE member and now an advisor to the club.

He added, “The first event I worked on as part of the e-board was a precollege day with Brentwood High School,” he said. “That was special for me, as I was thinking ‘I was there once upon a time.’” 

Islam will graduate this spring with a degree in mechanical engineering, a passion fueled by his “obsession with cars, since I was a kid — how they work, the different engines.”

Cruz, Islam and Arias all commented on the satisfaction of seeing up-and-coming SBU students’ eyes light up when they hear about how they can set themselves up for the future. Islam summed it up: “There’s a sense of community, a support system and an insight provided into engineering and STEM.”  

What’s Next for SHPE?
Plans for Fall 2023 include:

• Hispanic Heritage Month (mid-September to mid-October) series of events, featuring greater collaboration than ever with other Latino organizations, such as the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee and Latin American Student Organization;
• The SHPE National Convention in Utah in November, providing exclusive job opportunities and interviews, with a strong focus on raising funding to minimize the cost of attending;
• Precollege Day(s) with Brentwood, possibly expanded to include other high schools.