Engineering
Student Programs staff offer support, guidance
By
Sandra Colburn
The School
of Engineering might be big, but staff offer plenty of individual
attention to students.
 |
| Engineering
Student Programs office staff, from left, Amy Strobel, associate
director; Christina Maris, office manager; Deborah Kennedy,
administrative assistant; and Elaine Borrelli, director,
seated. Photo by Michael Padilla. |
Elaine
Borrelli, director of Engineering Student Programs, and her
staff, devote numerous hours making sure students at UNM feel
they have the support and encouragement they need to succeed.
We
know it is tough. We are willing to help each student succeed,
Borelli says.
The school
has some 1,400 students and offers ten degree programs throughout
five different departments, as well as masters and Ph.D. programs.
Such a
large school may be intimidating for new students trying to
figure out what they want to do and where they belong. Borrelli
and staff are committed to helping students make appropriate
decisions concerning their futures.
We
try to offer life exploration on top of an education,
she says. Some students have an indication, but are unsure
of where they belong. We have a lot to offer them, as they have
a lot to offer us; we dont want to lose them. And at a
time when our national security is an important issue, the field
of engineering is in high demand.
Staff help
students stay involved in school and acquire relevant outside
experiences and provide support and encouragement.
We
offer the students numerous activities and programs including
a Junior Engineering Technical Society, outreach activities,
job shadowing at Intel and mock interviews. We also offer the
Women in Science and Engineering Program, which helps women
succeed in the male dominated field of science and engineering,
Borelli says.