(City of Industry, CA) — SHPE has named Suzanna Valdez Wolfe as their next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Her resume includes over 30 years of experience in the public, non-profit and private sectors, including several roles during the Clinton-Gore administration, and having been appointed as an advisor on more than a dozen NGO boards, she is an expert in leadership and team development, strategic planning, fundraising and philanthropy, coalition building, and process integration.

The vetting process took roughly a year, and to guide this important decision, SHPE’s Board of Directors brought in Wipfli, a top-tier consulting firm, to develop, implement, and manage the CEO selection process from start to finish. As the selection process narrowed the nationwide pool of highly capable applicants, it became clear Suzanna was the right person for SHPE.

“She understands our mission, our legacy, and the direction SHPE is moving in,” says Board Chair Will Davis. “She demonstrated her innate ability to bring people together while fostering a commitment to a common goal. She is exceedingly humble even though she has many noteworthy accomplishments she could tout. And she is, at the end of the day, a strategic thinker and a collaborative problem solver driven by data – traits any engineer or scientist can respect!”

Suzanna succeeds Lifetime member and former Board Chair, Miguel Alemañy, who stepped up as SHPE’s interim CEO in March 2023. “It has been a privilege to serve at the helm of SHPE this past year,” Miguel reflects. “And I couldn’t be more excited for Suzanna to take the reins as the SHPE CEO. She is a nationally respected community-builder who truly values the members and stakeholders that make SHPE’s Familia the envy of organizations everywhere. She brings a wealth of sector knowledge and her vision aligns perfectly with where we want to go.”

Based in Miami, Suzanna comes to SHPE most recently as a founding member of Partners For NonProfits, an advisory firm dedicated to advancing the mission of nonprofit organizations. Prior to that role Ms. Valdez Wolfe served as the first-ever Chief Impact Officer at Taproot Foundation. And before that, she spent nearly 12 years at the Adrienne Arsht Center of the Performing Arts raising over $40 million during her tenure. She also has extensive experience working in the public sector, including the White House.

Ultimately, however, Suzanna is a leader who knows what it means to be a Hispanic woman in a world that may not always understand or appreciate what that represents. About her new role, she says “SHPE embodies so much of what Hispanics have to offer the world, and I can’t wait to continue to share our remarkable potential. It is a privilege to take on this role as the SHPE CEO, and I recognize the trust you must have in me to usher SHPE into our next 50 years of success. I am deeply committed to our mission and look forward to closing the gap between Hispanics and STEM.”

View the entire SHPE staff >

In January, SHPE attended the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This yearly convening welcomes over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

SHPE representatives, Interim CEO Miguel Alemañy and Chief External Relations Officer Monique Herrera were invited by the We Are All Human Foundation to join the Hispanic Delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The overarching goal was to prioritize the importance of unity and the representation of Latinos in global decision-making. This delegation aims to ensure that Hispanic voices are heard and that Hispanic leaders have a seat at the table when decisions impacting their communities are made.

While this was SHPE’s second time joining the global gathering, Miguel and Monique were not in unfamiliar territory. Many of the organization’s greatest supporters had both representation and influence there. SHPE partners like IBM, Microsoft, Bank of America, Accenture, Qualcomm, and JP Morgan Chase were major players in discussions that took place both on the stages and in more intimate one-on-one meetings throughout the week.

“The access we had to industry decision-makers was truly remarkable,“ says Monique. “It was incredibly valuable to be able to have a myriad of conversations with various corporate leaders in one place. What might usually take weeks or months to make happen due to cross-country travel and scheduling, we could accomplish in one evening while we were there.”

This year, the Forum’s theme was “Rebuilding Trust.” Mainly in response to the rise of AI and the effect on the global workforce, it was designed to be a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability. 

Speaker sessions and panels provided important insights into the future of the STEM employee. Key learnings included the role of the knowledge worker in conjunction with the tactical abilities of machines driven by AI. Exploration, curiosity, and passion are traits uniquely available to humans, and those are the qualities that should be encouraged and fostered in our workforce.

There was also a lot of emphasis on pre-skilling workers, or, in other words, training employees for the next generation of tech before current jobs become obsolete. This not only ensures a smooth transition for companies, but builds security and loyalty among the workforce.

Companies were reminded that their fortunes lay in the hands and on the shoulders of  middle management – meaning that the recruitment and retention of middle managers is paramount to their success.

And a commitment to DEI was reinforced consistently throughout the conference. Regardless of some growing skepticism of such programs, corporate leaders reasserted that DEI still comes down to dollars and cents. “It does not matter what you call it,” said one speaker, “you just have to do it.” It will cost companies more in the end not to do DEI. Forget about the legality of it all, the products will be richer, more innovative, more in demand. DEI is here to stay even if the name changes. 

“We walked away with three truths,” says Miguel. “STEM careers, including tens of thousands of cybersecurity jobs, are still on the rise and will be for the next 20, 30, 50 years. As the 5th largest economy in the world, Hispanics are both an economic powerhouse and workforce goldmine in the coming decades. And SHPE is uniquely positioned to answer the call of this supply and demand with our passionate, resilient, and eager members.”

“This experience was helpful on two levels,” Monique added. “It reinforced that SHPE’s current programs are providing necessary pre-skill training, leadership development, and problem solving for the next generation of STEM workers. It also helped us lay a groundwork for new programs that will address some of the challenges facing an evolving tech-centered world in the future. In all, it was an incredible experience, but it also felt like one that SHPE deserved and needed to be a part of.”

SHPE is beyond grateful for the partners that made this trip possible. Thank you to We Are All Human Foundation, HACE, Latinas in TECH, Martin Cabrera with Cabrera Capital, Dr. Robert Rodriguez, and HACR. SHPE looks forward to working together in the coming years  to elevate the influence and recognition of Hispanics.

This past August, we lost a member of our Familia, Daniel Salazar. Daniel worked for SHPE as an Accounts Payable Specialist from 2015 – 2019, and his presence among our staff made a lasting impression. While he was serious about living a life of service and faith, his wit and quiet enthusiasm surrounded him with a lightness that was a privilege to work with.

Daniel Salazar was born a proud Angelino on June 17, 1984 at Los Angeles County General Hospital. Although his childhood was full of challenges, his approach was full of the same humor and zeal he became so well known for. As his wife, Vera Pinzon, put it, “He grew up in South Central Los Angeles during the crack epidemic of the 80’s and 90’s. He loved mentioning this because, although one would say that is a terrible thing, Daniel was proud of his upbringing and his family. His ability to later celebrate the fact that he overcame obstacles that not everyone would, is proof of his resilience and secretly optimistic nature.”

From 2002 – 2007 Daniel attended the University of Southern California (USC) and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and Government. He would forever be a very proud fighting Trojan. 

In the years that followed, Daniel started working professionally as an accountant, which eventually led him to his role at SHPE. Here, he met many friends who would later become more like family. Whether it was celebrating Trojan football wins over rivals UCLA and Notre Dame with Josue Sandigo, Director of IT, or laughing during SHPE events with Ana Rodriguez, Daniel considered his colleagues more like cousins, aunts, and uncles than coworkers.

Some of his closest SHPE friends to shared their memories of Daniel in their own words:

“Collaborating together toward a mission of serving our members was a daily conversation. He would joke that every time I didn’t order off the dollar menu, I was taking away from a SHPE scholarship. Daniel was made for SHPE, as he knew his role was in service to others. It was never just accounting to him, rather always about our members. I will miss him terribly but always cherish our SHPE Familia bond.” –  Laura Rangel, Events (former)

“I loved seeing the pride he took in printing the checks for the contest winners, especially those who asked for a photo with him. Daniel loved going to mass after each conference, he shared  his faith and that is something I appreciated so much. I hope to continue maintaining his legacy. Tu amistad fue un regalo para todos los que te conocimos y me siento afortunada de haber tenido la oportunidad de conocerte. Amigo!” – Alma Meneses, Finance

“In loving memory of Daniel, a man of few words but a heart full of kindness. He was not only a friend but a chosen brother, whose witty nature brought people close to him like a magnet. One cherished memory is from his wedding day, where the rare smile on his face spoke volumes and it was evident that this day was the best day of his life. … I miss him everyday.” – Amanda Tovar, HR (former)

“Daniel was such a great coworker and friend during our SHPE years and as I spent time with him and his wonderful wife, Vera. I am so grateful I got the chance to know him and go on adventures in the various convention cities we attended together or to a magic show on the Queen Mary ship. To this day when I get ready for a trip I always say out loud and hear his voice in my head “Pack Snacks Nicole!” That was his joking way of telling me not to spend money on expenses. I always think of him when I see a basilica or beautiful Catholic church as I know he enjoyed going to them wherever we were. He will be greatly missed and no words can express my feelings without being sad.” – Nicole Knoderer, Events

Daniel personified the essence of SHPE’s mission. It was so evident he loved both his work and the people he worked with and for. And the feeling was certainly mutual. He will be remembered with deep fondness and forever missed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The prestigious SHPE Technical Achievement and Recognition (STAR) Awards recognize those in STEM who are changing lives through their community outreach, work, and research. The honorees were selected by a diverse review committee based on individual guidelines for each award, as well as those they felt represented the very best in STEM and the embodiment of SHPE’s mission and vision.

Company of the Year
Bank of America
(pictured above)

Academic Institution of the Year
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Hispanic Employee Resource Group of the Year
Chevron Corporation

Rodrigo Garcia Founder’s Award
Julio Grapa
P&G

Jaime Oaxaca Award
Antonina Robles
HP Inc.

Dr. Ellen Ochoa Award
Brenda Isaza
The Boeing Company

Rubén Hinojosa STEM Champion Award
Antonio Tijerino
Hispanic Heritage Foundation

Rubén Hinojosa STEM Champion Award
Ray Mellado (1948-2022)
Great Minds in STEM

Climate Sustainability Award
Dr. Miguel O. Román
Leidos

Community Service Award
Saul Montano
RTX

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Angela M. Rucks
Bank of America

Educator Achievement Award – Higher Education
Juan D. Ocampo
St. Mary’s University

Entrepreneur Award
Dr. Isaac Rodriguez
SweetBio, Inc.

Executive Achievement Award – Corporate
Dr. Sandra Hernández
Chevron Corporation

Executive Achievement Award – Government
Ivan Pereira
Naval Surface Warfare Center

Innovator Award
Marc Velasco
IBM

Managerial Excellence Award – Corporate
Alonso Navarrete
Cummins Inc.

Managerial Excellence Award – Government
Briana Marie Pierce
United States Air Force

Role Model Award – Graduate
Carolina A. Colón
Georgia Institute of Technology

Role Model Award – Professional
Benjamin Gonzalez Vazquez
Bechtel Global Corporation

Role Model Award – Undergraduate
Leah Flores-Cabrera
Michigan State University

STAR of Today Award – Corporate
Krystal Puga
Northrop Grumman Corporation

STAR of Today Award – Government
Anthony Louis Garcia
Sandia National Laboratories

STAR of Tomorrow Award – Corporate
Ernesto E Covarrubias
The Boeing Company

STAR of Tomorrow Award – Government
Iker Liceaga-Indart
NASA

STEM Warrior Award
Paola Estrada
United States Air Force

Young Investigator Award
Joaquin Resasco
The University of Texas at Austin

The STAR Award honorees will be recognized during the SHPE National Convention being held in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 1-5. They will be presented during two different ceremonies: the Excellence in STEM Luncheon on Thursday from 12:00-1:30pm and the STAR Awards Ceremony on Friday from 7:00-9:00pm.

SHPE: Leading Hispanics in STEM, a national organization representing Hispanic professionals and students in STEM, will host its 47th National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Salt Palace Convention Center, November 1 through 5, 2023.  The largest gathering of Hispanic STEM talent in the nation, the event is expected to be attended by 10,000 students, professionals, academia, and industry leaders.

About SHPE:

SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 14,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. For more information please visit https://www.shpe.org/.

We are honored to share the inaugural 2023 SHPE-LDC U.S. Latinos in Engineering and Tech Report produced in collaboration with the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC).

The collaboration between the LDC and SHPE embodies a spirit of unity and shared purpose essential to overcoming challenges and seizing the opportunities presented by the ever-evolving landscape of engineering and tech. Together, we have embarked on a journey to explore the experiences, achievements, and aspirations of Latinos in these fields.

This report delves deep into the experiences of Latino students and professionals, highlighting their contributions and challenges and discussing the untapped potential within this dynamic and rapidly growing community. It provides invaluable insights that inform our organizations and catalyze change across the broader engineering and tech ecosystem.

At SHPE, we have long recognized the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in driving innovation and fostering excellence in the STEM fields. We understand that the future of engineering and tech depends on our ability to harness the vast talents and perspectives the Hispanic community offers. This report is a testament to our commitment to that vision.

As we navigate the path ahead, let us remember that diversity is not merely a buzzword. It is also a critical business tool to accelerate growth and creativity; it impacts the bottom-line and is a wise business decision. The richness of the Hispanic community’s experiences, culture, and perspective is a source of innovation waiting to be tapped. By fostering inclusivity, we not only empower individuals to reach their fullest potential but also propel our industries and society to greater heights.

SHPE’s overarching goal is to expedite the achievement of parity in engineering degrees awarded to Hispanic students. While the current trajectory suggests that Hispanic engineering enrollment will reach parity with Hispanic workforce numbers by 2035, our aspiration is to attain equity in engineering degrees awarded well before the projected year of 2060.

Together we can contribute to the growing Latino commitment to higher education and achieving excellence by increasing the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees Latinos in engineering and tech earn.

Sincerely,

Miguel Alemañy, Interim Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Kimberly D. Douglas, Chief Research & Impact Officer
Dr. Dayna L. Martínez, Senior Director, Research & Impact

A Special Note of Thanks: The data in this report is based on the research gathered from SHPE past and current members through the annual SHPE Needs Assessment. It would not be possible without the generosity of those who took the time to complete the surveys. We are thankful for you and we hope that it’s as rewarding to you as it is to us to see the results of your efforts.

WATCH THE RELEASE | The 2023 SHPE-LDC U.S. Latinos in Engineering and Tech report was presented live by SHPE and the Latino Donor Collaborative at the L’ATTITUDE Conference in Miami, Florida on Thursday, September 28. Watch the recording >

Guest speaker from the Department of Justice

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights, SHPE hosted a highly anticipated webinar dedicated to members of its Academic Partnership Council (APC). The purpose was to offer Deans from Engineering, Science, or Technology schools a valuable opportunity to gain clarity on available resources. These resources are aimed at breaking down information barriers and preventing the spread of misinformation, especially as higher education institutions seek equitable paths forward following the Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmative Action.

Shaheena A. Simons, Chief of the Educational Opportunities Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, joined us as guest speaker. Her office’s role is responsible for enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which deals with complaints and concerns related to potential discrimination in educational institutions. In our recent webinar, her expertise was instrumental in clarifying the misconception that efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion are universally prohibited. It’s essential to emphasize that community advocates must stay organized and actively engage in ongoing discussions to effectively adapt to new on-campus policies.

With leadership of Dr. Kimberly Douglas, Chief of Research and Impact Officer and APC Co-Chairs Lance Perez and Robert Keynton, the group carried out a meaningful conversation about further guidance on how life experiences, different viewpoints, talents, and backgrounds can be considered in admissions processes, scholarships, and financial assistance. Most importantly, the conversation encouraged participants to remain committed to working with community partners on expanding access to a higher education, improving a sense of belonging, while continue to create opportunities for economic mobility for all students.  

As part of our ongoing efforts to establish SHPE as a valuable resource for our partners, the Academic Partnership Council and the Research & Impact team will collaborate with SHPE’s Government Relations department to host a series of informative webinars. These webinars will primarily focus on providing tools and resources that can best support our members. Our goal is to ensure that this webinar series provides valuable information that enhances the success of SHPE’s members in higher education institutions, as it pertains to community outreach, access pathways, and retention programs. 

SHPE’s Academic Partnership Council is a forum of Deans with similar interest in serving Hispanic students and actively contribute to the success of Hispanics students in STEM by partnering with SHPE on new and innovative programs, and positively impact SHPE’s 14,000+ members.

City of Industry, CA – Excelencia in Education has named the ScholarSHPE program as a finalist for the 2023 Examples of Excelencia, recognizing the program’s intentionality in serving Latino students through culturally relevant, evidence-based practices. ScholarSHPE is among 19 Examples of Excelencia finalists across the country.Lack of funds is one of the most critical challenges facing Hispanic students in college. With the ScholarSHPE program, SHPE puts our money where our mouth is, and distributes over $1.8 million in scholarships annually to our members. As a result, our ScholarSHPE program demonstrates that our SHPE Familia values them as members of the STEM community and is invested in their future. SHPE awarded scholarships to 346 students for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Examples of Excelencia is the only national effort to identify, aggregate, and promote evidence-based practices accelerating Latino student success in higher education. As one of this year’s finalists, ScholarSHPE demonstrates intentionality and impact in improving degree outcomes for Latino and other post-traditional students. The program’s efforts can inform institutional leaders and practitioners that are proactively seeking ways to build and sustain practices tailored to their students and their communities.

“We bring national attention to the Examples of Excelencia finalists because they show what is possible when serving Latino students in their higher education journeys,” said Adriana Rodriguez, Vice President for Programs at Excelencia in Education. “Beyond enrollment, these programs implement replicable practices that answer questions of how best to reach Latino students and support them to and through college in today’s landscape.

ScholarSHPE and the other finalists were selected through a robust review process of 103 program submissions representing higher education institutions and community organizations across 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in four categories: associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organizations. Since 2005, Excelencia has received over 2,000 program submissions, recognized over 400 programs for their impact, and raised and awarded over $2 million to the programs making a difference for Latino students to sustain their work.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious recognition for our ScholarSHPE program,” says SHPE Chief Research & Impact Officer Dr. Kimberly Douglas. “The generosity of our corporate and individual donors makes these scholarships possible and the commitment of our staff makes the program more effective every year. ScholarSHPE truly changes lives for Hispanic students pursuing their STEM degrees.”

All finalist programs will be featured online in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database — the only national, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, policymakers, and others interested in effective programs for Latino students.

To see the full list of the 2023 Examples of Excelencia finalists visit: edexcelencia.org/examples-excelencia-finalists

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About Excelencia in Education
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies, advancing institutional practices, and collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia has established a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. For more information, visit:EdExcelencia.org 

About SHPE
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. To accomplish this, SHPE provides a variety of programming, services, resources, and events, including hosting the largest Hispanic STEM convention in the nation.  For more information, visit http://shpe.org.

For many years SHPE chapters have delivered parent programming in conjunction with Noche de Ciencias pre-college events. Two years ago, SHPE began designing Equipando Padres to fill collegiate parent programming gap. “When we looked at nationwide programming, we found programming for first-generation-to-college parents, Hispanic parents, and engineering parents, but what was missing was programming at the intersection of the three,” says SHPE Chief Research & Innovation Officer, Dr. Kimberly D. Douglas. “That’s the gap the Equipando Padres program fills.”  Equipando Padres is a dedicated effort to provide parents of first-generation-to-college Hispanic students the knowledge and tools to better support their children earning engineering degrees.

Research shows that parent support is critical for student success. “We know from our experience with SHPE members, that Hispanic parents give their children all the emotional support possible. However, many of these parents haven’t gone through the college experience themselves so we equip them with the college knowledge necessary to provide their children with instrumental support,” says SHPE Director, Dr. Dayna L. Martínez. “That’s where the Equipando Padres program comes in!”  SHPE’s expertise is in designing curriculum that includes the cultural aspects critical to the Hispanic experience while addressing the specific challenges of pursuing an engineering career. The ultimate goal is to position parents and caregivers as an integral contributor to their student’s success.

The Equipando Padres program, supported by Raytheon Technologies, began by delivering one-hour workshops in conjunction with virtual pre-college events while we worked to develop content to launch Equipando Padres University. Equipando Padres University is a multi-year parent and caregiver experience that will parallel their child’s college experience earning an engineering degree. SHPE’s first offering in Equipando Padres University is a half-day experience for adult family members with children interested in pursuing engineering. It is delivered by engineering professionals, students, parents, and staff to support caregivers who have students currently interested in exploring engineering careers.

On February 18, 2023, SHPE launched the first of six offerings for this pilot program in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Over 26 parents completed the course with an additional 24 volunteers, facilitators, and SHPE staff in attendance. This included special support from two Universidad de Puerto Rico campuses – Mayagüez and Ponce. The Puerto Rico offering was delivered entirely in Spanish, but the remaining offerings will be delivered in both Spanish and English.

The day started with a warm welcome from Dr. Martínez and interim CEO, Miguel Alemañy. “This is a game changer for Hispanics in STEM,” Alemañy shared with the participants. “The future of STEM depends on the mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and caregivers of this next generation supporting their children’s success. With your support, anything is possible.”

This first Equipando Padres University offering focuses on three critical topics: Why College, Choosing a College, and Preparing for College Visits. Participants have access to a complete set of resources during the session that can also be accessed virtually for ongoing support. These are available via the Equipando Padres website, and include a guidebook, a college ranking tool, a college visit scorecard and college visit budget template, informational videos, and, of course, swag. The guidebook is designed as a flip book – written in both Spanish and English.

The preliminary data from this event indicates success on multiple levels. Nearly 77% of participants say they now know more about the three main topics covered by the course. A whopping 95% said that after completing this first Equipando Padres University event, their confidence increased around supporting their child’s dream for a engineering education. When asked “how much do you feel you are part of the SHPE Familia” on a scale from 1-10 (with 1 being “not at all” and 10 being “a lot”), the average rating was 9!

Another success? 100% indicated a 10 when asked how likely they are to recommend Equipando Padres University to others. We know from our research that the need  for these resources is out there, but we know from experience that our curriculum is endorsed by the people who matter most – our parent participants.

A huge thank you goes out to SHPE’s hard-working Equipando Padres team. Dr. Kimberly D. Douglas originally envisioned the program and built a partnership with Raytheon Technologies to make it a reality. The program was then developed and executed by Dr. Dayna Martínez, Enrique Guzmán, Liliana González, and Yajaira de La Paz.

We’re also indebted to Raytheon Technologies for their support of the program as the exclusive sponsor. “Without their financial support and collaborative vision, these life-changing events and materials would not be possible,” says interim CEO Miguel Alemañy. “Raytheon Technologies’ commitment to the future of Hispanics in STEM is truly a game changer.”

With the first offering a success, we’re full steam ahead with deploying Equipando Padres University across the nation this spring. Additional pilots were held in the Hialeah/Miami, FL area on March 11, and in Hacienda Heights, CA on March 25. Future dates will be announced for Tucson, AZ; Charlotte, NC; and a virtual session.

For more information and updates about Equipando Padres and Equipando Padres University, please sign up on our Equipando Padres website, or contact [email protected].

Former Board Treasurer and Human Resources Professional Brings Valuable People Management and Organizational Skills to the Leadership Team

(City of Industry, CA) — Effective April 1, 2023, former Board Treasurer and Intel executive Ernesto “Ernie” Felix serves as Chief of Staff for SHPE, reporting directly to interim CEO Miguel Alemañy.

Ernesto Felix was born and raised in the small border town of Nogales, Arizona. His father, Alvaro, an auto mechanic, and mother, Carmen, a retail store supervisor, worked hard and instilled that work ethic into Ernesto and his brothers. Ernesto graduated from Nogales High School with honors and received a scholarship to attend Arizona State University (ASU), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Management and Economics. At ASU, he was selected to be a foreign exchange student at the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, where he experienced and connected with authentic Mexican culture.

Ernesto worked at Intel Corporation for over 27 years and retired earlier this year. He’s a recognized change agent and thought leader with expertise in diversity and inclusion, large scale program management, leadership development, and human resources management. Known as an innovative problem solver, trusted advisor, and collaborator with global cross-industry experience, he has built and led teams in the U.S.A., Latin America, and Asia. Ernesto also led the Hispanic Initiative programs at Intel, where he developed a strategy to hire, develop, grow, and retain Hispanics. Today the LatinX program serves as a model for other community initiatives.

Having been in SHPE’s Industry Partnership Council (IPC) for many years as the Intel representative, Lifetime member Ernesto has a long history with SHPE. He also served on the board of the SHPE Foundation and on the SHPE Board of Directors from 2015-2020 with all of those years spent as the Treasurer.

“I’m excited by the expertise and passion that Ernie brings to the SHPE organization,” says interim CEO Miguel Alemañy. “His program management, human resource, and leadership development skills, along with his commitment to SHPE, are exactly what we need to help our team achieve its full potential, while also improving the efficiency of our processes.”

About his new role Ernesto says, “SHPE has always held a special place in my heart, so I’m honored to be able to use my experience to serve the organization during this second stage of my career. I look forward to working closely with Miguel and the SHPE staff and members to take SHPE to the next level of success.”

About SHPE
SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) is a nonprofit organization serving and advancing Hispanics in STEM. With more than 13,000 student and professional members, SHPE’s mission is to change lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. For more information, please visit https://www.shpe.org/