Our Community
The Office of Diversity and Engagement provides a vision of strategic diversity for the School of Engineering, supports diversity initiatives benefiting the School and University, and seeks external support for diversity research and education. The office also operates the Center for Diversity in Engineering, a student support center.
Addressing society's complex challenges will require everyone's talents and perspectives. The vision for UVA Engineering's diversity efforts, led by the Office of Diversity and Engagement, is to harness the strategic value of diversity, inclusion and engagement in UVA Engineering's educational and research programs. We are cultivating an environment in which every person is optimally valued and supported, so our students, faculty and staff can make their best contributions to society.
UVA Engineering is proud to be the top public engineering school in the country for women earning engineering degrees, and for four-year graduation rates for all student demographic groups. However, much more work is ahead to ensure we achieve our vision for harnessing the strategic value of diversity, building an environment in which every person is optimally valued and supported, and ensuring that students, faculty and staff are empowered to make outstanding contributions to society.
The Office of Diversity and Engagement is tackling these challenges in multiple ways:
UVA Center for Diversity in Engineering
UVA's Center for Diversity in Engineering, located in the Engineering School's Thornton Hall, is laser focused on supporting student success. On behalf of the Office of Diversity and Engagement, the center offers multiple student-focused programs, such as the Summer Bridge program that provides rising first-year students with detailed preparation for their new life as UVA engineers.
The center facilitates free tutoring during the academic year, helps students locate internships and research opportunities, and connects students with the many organizations on Grounds that provide information and support. The center also engages with student organizations, particularly those serving students who are traditionally underrepresented in engineering.
For more information, visit the center in Thornton Hall D111, or contact James Bland.
Office of Diversity, Equity and Engagement Staff
Meara M. Habashi
Dr. Meara M. Habashi is an expert in social and workplace behaviors who previously led Purdue’s Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Management, which empowers women to overcome gender obstacles in the workplace and prepares students to lead and excel in a diverse workforce and changing social climate.
Amanda Fortune
Center for Diversity in Engineering Staff
James Bland
Katie Alexander
Luna Alazar
UVA's Clark Scholars Team
Alicia Cowan-Brown
Alicia joined the Clark Scholars Program in 2022 as the Program Coordinator. Her responsibilities include program implementation, scholar engagement, and collaborating with various partners to improve the Engineering student experience.
Luna Alazar
Engineering Student Support Services
Students in the School of Engineering have access to an expansive student support team, including an embedded UVA assistant dean of students, counselors from UVA's Counseling and Psychological Services team, and a counselor from UVA's Student Disability Access Center. Learn more about these positions below.
Assistant Dean of Students
The School of Engineering hosts an embedded assistant dean of students from the UVA Care and Support Services team. The assistant dean specializes in providing crisis triage and response, Engineering and University resource referrals, information about University conduct policies and generalist support for students in distress. The assistant dean also works closely with support services and resources in other offices or areas of the Engineering School and the University to connect students with the most helpful and relevant support available for their specific needs or concerns. This position is temporarily vacant, while we search for a new assistant dean to join our school community.
How to Make An Appointment
While we search for a new assistant dean, students who wish to make an appointment to speak with anyone from the Office of the Care and Support Services can call the office at 434-924-7133. Students may also contact the office via email at CASS@virginia.edu, or walk in any time during business hours to Peabody Hall (second floor). Staff on the team will meet with students, listen to their concerns, and work to determine what additional meetings or referrals will be appropriate and helpful.
Embedded Counseling and Psychological Services
Liz Ramirez-Weaver and Katie Fowler are the School of Engineer's embedded counselors from the UVA Counseling and Psychological Services team. Liz and Katie specialize in helping students find effective ways to cope with:
- Personal concerns: Stress, anxiety, depression
- Academic concerns: Perfectionism, lack of motivation, performance anxiety
- Developmental concerns: Adjustment to college life, identity (personal, cultural, sexual orientation, gender identity)
- Trauma-Sexual assault, abuse and other traumatic events
- Substance Use concerns: Alcohol and other drugs
- Other concerns: Career direction, body image concerns, personal values, spiritual concerns etc.
How to Make an Appointment
You may schedule an initial phone assessment online using the HealthyHoos patient portal (login using your Netbadge ID) or by calling the CAPS main number (434-243-5150) and notifying the receptionist that you are enrolled in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
For more information, please see Getting Started at CAPS | Student Health and Wellness, U.Va. (virginia.edu).
Confidentiality
Liz and Katie are UVA confidential employees: HTTPS://EOCR.VIRGINIA.EDU/CHART-CONFIDENTIAL-RESOURCES
CAPS Outreach
Liz and Katie are available for virtual presentations on mental health and wellness. Please email Liz at ER2TN@VIRGINIA.EDU or Katie at RFK2XJ@VIRGINIA.EDU and submit the CAPS OUTREACH REQUEST FORM
TimelyCare and TalkNow
UVA CAPS, in partnership with TimelyCare, offers 12 FREE scheduled telehealth counseling visits with a licensed mental health provider to all students who have paid comprehensive health fees with their tuition (no insurance needed). TalkNow, which is an additional service through TimelyCare, allows students to connect with a mental health professional any time of day, either by phone or video. Click here to learn more about TimelyCare, or to get started.
Student Disability Access Specialist
Courtney MacMasters is the accessibility specialist for the School of Engineering from the UVA Student Disability Access Center. Students are encouraged to submit an application (please indicate you are in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, so you will be assigned to Courtney as your advisor). After submitting an application, students can also email Courtney directly (cmacmasters@virginia.edu) or stop by her office on the first floor of the Thornton Hall A wing, across from the Dean's Office.
Student Organizations
The Office of Diversity and Engagement acts as a touchpoint and liaison for all student organizations, including those serving students who are traditionally underrepresented in engineering. Those organizations are:
As part of its strong efforts to remove barriers and empower future engineering leaders, the Office of Diversity & Engagement is leading a national study aimed at revolutionizing diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to meet America's workforce, technology and security needs. The research will produce a predictive analytical model for STEM education success among underserved students, as well as isolate the factors that inhibit academic success. The data will be used to develop interventions and best practices for national dissemination among other universities and industry to strengthen the talent pipeline for underserved STEM students and workers.
UVA Center for Wireless Health Research Experience for Undergraduates 2019 Program
Program dates: June 3-July 26, 2019
Application deadline: March 15, 2019
The UVA Center for Wireless Health seeks highly motivated applicants for a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The goal of this effort is to provide an intensive, faculty-mentored research experience over an eight-week period. Wireless Health is an emerging, interdisciplinary field aimed at infusing wireless technologies in health care and medical research to improve patient care and quality of life while reducing health care costs. This research program is funded through the National Science Foundation.
Benefits:
- Hands-on research experience
- Faculty mentor
- Graduate school preparation
- $4,000 stipend
- On-campus accommodations
- Travel expenses (up to $480)
Research areas:
- Biomedical engineering
- Electrical engineering
- Computer engineering
- Computer science
- Mechanical engineering
- Systems engineering
Eligibility requirements:
Applicants must be current undergraduate students and U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition to the online application, candidates should submit a personal statement, transcript and two letters of recommendation.
We are accepting applications for the 2019 REU program through March 15, 2019.
Click here to apply through our online portal. For more information about the Wireless Health REU program, please send an email to linklab@virginia.edu.