The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Fresno City College is creating a space where all students can build friendships, find academic support and explore career opportunities in engineering. They meet every other Friday in the New Science building in room 129 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., with lunch, workshops, guest speakers and hands-on activities.

The club focuses on supporting women in engineering while remaining open to students of all backgrounds and majors. According to Jasleen Kaur, the Society of Women Engineers president and a third year chemical engineering major, the club’s goal is centered around community, allowing opportunities to all students who are interested in engineering or not.

“You don’t have to be a woman to join,” Kaur said. “As long as you support our mission to uplift women in engineering, anyone is welcome.”

The meetings often include discussions about upcoming events, opportunities and time for students to connect with each other.

The club plans to host multiple events throughout the semester, including Women of Engineering Day on Feb. 27, which is an outreach event that brings local high school students to campus for hands-on activities and engineering demonstrations.

Another event the Society of Women Engineers will host is Pi Day on March 13. This campus celebration features games, activities and fundraising to support the Society of Women Engineers program.

Fundraisers this semester include partnerships with Panda Express and Chipotle.

In addition to on-campus events, the Society of Women Engineers is looking to be involved in more off-campus activities like field trips, campus tours, facility tours and fundraisers.

“We usually tour the recycling center,” Kaur said. “This year I want to change it up.”

This semester, the club is planning potential engineering-focused college campus tours at University of California Davis and Stanford University.

Its club leadership includes Vice President Christina Veloz, Treasurer Zar Jalhayar, Secretary Liana Alvarez and Event Coordinator Princess Moua. They all help coordinate events and maintain communication with members using Canvas. Students interested in joining can email advisor Gurpreet Flaher for more information.

(Left to Right) SWE President Jasleen Kaur, Vice President Christina Veloz, Treasurer Zar Jalhayar, Secretary Liana Alvarez and Event coordinator Princess Moua poses for photo in front of SWE trophy case in the New Science building at FCC on Jan. 23. (Photo by: Jimmy Johnson)

Veloz, a mechanical engineering major who hopes to transfer into biomedical engineering, said the club has helped students stay motivated throughout their academic journeys.

“It’s been a long journey,” Veloz said.

The club’s sense of community is one of the reasons members said they continued to stay involved. Rene Espinoza, an electrical engineering major, said they joined when they were looking for ways to get involved on campus and quickly found a welcoming environment.

“I made some really good friends, some really good people, and I saw that they had really good opportunities in getting a look at what engineering has to offer,” Espinoza said.

Espinoza said the club has helped him academically by connecting them with classmates they could study with and ask for help.

“A lot of times people are too scared to ask for help,” Espinoza said. “But they really made me feel like I could ask for help, and we helped each other.”

Espinoza said the club has also helped provide them with opportunities they might not have found without attending a national Society of Women Engineers conference.

“I was able to talk to industry professionals, watch talks and listen to people that have been in the business,” Espinoza said. “That really inspired me and motivated me to work hard to get into the industry.”

The club creates a sense of belonging that is challenging in an engineering work field.

“In engineering, you get imposter syndrome,” Espinoza said. “You’re like, ‘I can’t do this.’ Being in a club like this helps you encourage each other and keep going.”

As the Society of Women Engineers continues to grow, Kaur hopes more students will take advantage of the club’s resources and sense of community.

“Whether you’re exploring engineering for the first time or already set on a career path, the Society of Women Engineers is here to support you,” Kaur said.

(Left to right) Treasurer Zar Jalhayar, President Jasleen Kaur and Vice president Christina Veloz instructing club members on activity in first meeting of the semester in the New Science building at Fresno City College on Jan. 23. (Photo by: Jimmy Johnson)