January Letter from SHPE
As we begin the new year, it is a time of reflection. It is a time to think of the year that has passed and of the year to come.
As I look back at 2009, I am proud of our success as an organization. Congratulations are in order. Thanks to you, our dedicated SHPE members – students and professionals – sponsors, committee chairs, volunteers, staff and board, the 2009 SHPE Conference in Washington, D.C. was the best and biggest in SHPE’s history. In fact, it was a success before we even got started, with record-breaking registration numbers! Almost 6,000 of the nation’s top minds in STEM gathered together for the largest technical conference for Hispanics in the nation.
Our national conference is not the only thing that grew this year. In 2009, SHPE opened a new office in our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. This new office will allow us to work closely with federal agencies for funding SHPE programs, developing partnerships with various federal agencies, and influencing Hispanic education policy at the national level. And we’re hitting the ground running, as we’ve recently hired Deborah Martinez as the new Director of Programs for AHETEMS. Her extensive track record leading national associations and organizations will help guide SHPE/AHETEMS to develop invaluable programs for pre-college and college students nationally.
And we continue to grow both our membership numbers and the services we provide to our members. SHPE was started 35 years ago by a small group of engineers in California, but this year, we grew to 240 student chapters spread across the nation. These student members continue to make an impact with the great work they do on their campus and in their communities. And, thanks to AHETEMS, we had the first ever Graduate Leadership Institute for SHPE graduate students at NILA. But it doesn’t stop there. In 2009 we began efforts, which will continue into 2010, to further highlight our PhDs, those stars among us who have put in the time and effort to reach the highest level of academia.
2009 was a great year for SHPE. But our success, this momentum, cannot stop now. We are just getting started. As I look forward to 2010, I am excited about our continued growth potential. I look forward to the changes we are striving for – increased membership numbers, and more importantly, increased membership benefits. We are adding value to your SHPE membership at every level.
SHPE is the source for quality Hispanic engineers and technical talent. We are committed to enhancing America’s position in math, science, engineering and technology with a strong and talented Hispanic workforce. Our mission is difficult, but important. I am excited for what we can accomplish together in 2010 for our members and our nation.
Happy New Year.
Manny Hernández
