Job Title/Department: Administrative coordinator, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Alameda, California
What brought you to Cal Poly College of Engineering?
I had a circuitous route. I was hired in the Human Resources Department and then transferred to the CENG Dean’s Office and have remained in the College of Engineering ever since. I worked in the Dean’s Office at three different times, as well as for the Multicultural Engineering Program, the Computer Engineering Department, the Electrical Engineering Department, the Mechanical Engineering Department, and the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is working with the students and faculty and learning new systems for my job.
What is your favorite place in San Luis Obispo County and why?
My favorite place in the county is Santa Margarita, where I live. The Santa Margarita Ranch is in my backyard, and there is even a creek that runs through the back of my property. There is so much to do and see for a tiny town.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I like to swim; I was a competitive swimmer for 13 years. I am trying to get back to competing as a masters swimmer.
What is the most helpful advice you’ve received?
There is a quote that I go by: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time,” by Maya Angelou, which, for me, means that I should listen to my own self and trust my instincts.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what one band or musician would keep you entertained?
I would love to listen to Journey. I also really love a lot of the Bay Area artists like Boz Scaggs, Grateful Dead and Santana. I think there is a special sound that the Bay Area has.
What is something you can’t live without?
My family — and this stretches to my extended family as well. I was raised with grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins living close by. It could seem stifling at times because we all knew everything about each other, but in the end, family has the most dependability.
How does engineering apply to your daily life?
I am finishing up my bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in science, technology and society at Cal Poly. I have taken almost all of my electives in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, and it has given me a better understanding of how things work and the processes involved. Taking engineering classes gives me a direct perspective on what students are learning. It provides me with valuable insight when speaking with them.
How do you encourage engineering students to make an impact on the community?
I really encourage students to volunteer in their communities and to have compassion for others, both within and outside of Cal Poly. We rarely know what someone is going through unless they tell us, so it’s important to treat everyone with respect.
How do you support the college’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion?
I sit on the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department’s DEI Continuous Improvement Committee. Currently, we are looking at how our manufacturing major’s female students can feel more included.
I also completed my senior project by learning to do qualitative analysis on a study completed on statements made about COVID-19 and the college experiences within CENG and another CSU engineering campus. This opened my eyes to the amount of suffering the pandemic brought and the inequities found among us.
By Taylor Villanueva
