An Inside Look at CU Denver’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Following 2023 Convention

Fifteen student members and their faculty advisor, Fernando Mancilla- David, attended the SHPE 2023 National Convention, which took place from November 1 to 5, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The convention was a great success, featuring more than 12,000 engineering student attendees from all over the United States. The convention brought together students and many sponsors from industry (e.g., Apple, Google, SpaceX), government (e.g., CIA, NSF, DOE), and nonprofits (e.g., The Electric Power Research Institute, The Linux Foundation, Space Dynamics Laboratory).

CU Denver’s SHPE president, David Malfavon, who is pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor is Electrical Engineering, shares his thoughts on SHPE below:

What does your organization offer CU Denver students?

“Being part of SHPE here at CU Denver has allowed me to connect with fellow Hispanic students pursuing engineering, fostering both academic and professional growth. SHPE, as an organization, has granted the CU Denver chapter access to various opportunities, including professional development events, workshops, networking events, and conferences. These SHPE resources have proven invaluable to me as a first-generation student. If I had to pinpoint the most impactful experience, it would undoubtedly be the national conference. This year marked my second consecutive attendance, and both experiences have been incredible. During my first conference last year, in my sophomore year, my limited experience didn’t immediately translate into internship opportunities. However, it provided me with a valuable perspective. A specific recruiter at Boeing played a pivotal role, inspiring me to enhance myself as a candidate by acknowledging my potential despite my lack of experience at the time. Since then, I joined the RocketLynx senior design project as a junior member, led by a SHPE member, and secured a position as an undergraduate research assistant in the additive manufacturing lab on campus. These experiences significantly benefited me at this year’s convention, where I managed to secure two interviews on the spot.”

What does leadership mean to you?

“Leadership involves various qualities and actions. A leader first and foremost needs to have a vision where the goal for their team is clearly outlined. Having this goal prioritized a leader can address their team creating a collaborative environment and ensuring that everyone is on the same page regarding the goal. This is vital to leadership as it creates trust and influences the team, through success or failure, to continue working towards the ultimate goal.”

Which Hispanic leaders do you admire?

“The chapter here at CU Denver has introduced me to some incredible leaders, namely Jose Treto, Alejandro Miramontes, and Luis Ortiz. Jose Treto, the CU Denver SHPE president last year, ensured my involvement in SHAPE as I entered my sophomore year. He consistently checked in on me, offering advice as a senior. Being the first person in my family to attend college, his guidance gave me a clear path to follow. Even after graduating, he continues to reach out and recently assisted me in preparing for the national conference. Next is Alejandro Miramontes, the treasurer of the SHPE chapter last year. Alex played a pivotal role in my growth this past year, ultimately helping me secure interviews. He served as the team lead for the RocketLynx senior design project, where I gained valuable experience working on a real engineering project. Alex actively encouraged me to tackle challenges and learn from every team member, contributing significantly to my development as an engineer and team player. Last but not least is Luis Ortiz, the current Secretary of the chapter. Luis assumed the role of a big brother for the chapter this semester. He actively encouraged us to apply for internships, helped us fine-tune our resumes, and conducted practice interviews with us. Luis instilled confidence in us at the convention, enabling our members, including myself, to walk into those interviews prepared and less nervous than we might have otherwise been.”

What are your career aspirations?

“I am currently awaiting responses from some interviews and maintaining an optimistic outlook. Additionally, I am enthusiastic about the senior design project and possibly joining another project as a junior member. With these experiences, I anticipate graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in May 2025. I am eager to pursue a career in the aerospace industry and am even considering the possibility of returning to school for a master’s degree in aerospace or mechanical engineering.”

The entire board of CU Denver’s SHPE chapter shared their responses to these questions. To read what leadership means to each of them as well as the myriad of different hispanic leaders they all admire, I highly suggest downloading the file below!

College of Engineering, Design and Computing’s strategic plan aims to strengthen support and increase success for underrepresented engineering students and serve Colorado employers by growing diverse technical talent in the state. Currently, almost 20 percent of the U.S. population is Hispanic, yet only 8 percent of STEM and engineering jobs are filled by Hispanic professionals. At CU Denver, Hispanic student enrollment has grown by 109 percent in the College of Engineering, Design and Computing over the last four years and now makes up 23.2 percent of its undergraduate population.

For further details on SHPE, please visit https://shpe.org/engage/events/national-convention/.