This summer, we are celebrating women leaders in engineering with insightful Q&As featuring prominent figures from the College of Engineering. These trailblazing women are transforming engineering culture, significantly impacting students and paving the way for a brighter future. This week, we highlight Amy S. Fleischer, dean of the College of Engineering.
How does your leadership style emphasize the intersection of technology and society, and how do you see it influencing the culture at Cal Poly?
I strongly believe that engineering should be used to make the world a better place. It’s crucial for us to consider how advancements in technology intersect with and impact society. At our college, we are weaving that approach into our curriculum and cocurricular projects. One such program is the Change the World Challenge, where students employ a systems approach to develop technology-based solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, balancing technical concerns with social, cultural, economic, historical, political, ethical and environmental implications.
Can you share a moment or project where you felt particularly proud of the accomplishments of female students or faculty under your leadership?
I am always excited to see the ways that our young women in engineering are willing and eager to serve as role models for girls. Our students are engaged in outreach efforts that span from kindergarten to community colleges. It is always fun to see them working with young girls, igniting their interest in engineering and inspiring the next generation of engineers.
How do you envision the future of women in engineering, both at Cal Poly and in the broader industry, and what steps are you taking to help realize that vision?
I envision a future where our engineering community and culture warmly welcome engineers from a broad range of perspectives. I am actively working with my leadership team at Cal Poly to ensure that the College of Engineering fosters an environment where engineers and computer scientists of all genders can thrive.
Over the past five years, the number of women in our programs has steadily grown. This past fall, our incoming first-year class was more than one-third women. In fact, three of our undergraduate majors – biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, and liberal arts and engineering studies – now have enrollments exceeding 50% women. We are also ensuring that all our advisory boards have representatives from diverse backgrounds, and the number of women on these boards has risen dramatically.
Additionally, we have been working to transform the feel of our college spaces, making sure our walls reflect the wide diversity of students and faculty that make up the college.
How do you balance the demands of leadership with your passion for engineering, and what advice do you have for female engineers aspiring to leadership roles?
My advice is to let your career develop organically and be open to the opportunities that come along. If someone suggests that you consider an opportunity, don’t decline because you lack confidence in yourself. Don’t doubt yourself – take the leap and try something new.
