Sandra Begay-Campbell, a member of the UNM Board of Regents, will receive the UNM School of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumnae Award during a dinner at the Student Union Building Ballroom Oct. 6. Begay-Campbell received a bachelors in Civil Engineering from UNM in 1987 and a masters in Structural Engineering from Stanford University.
Photo: UNM Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell
While at UNM, Begay-Campbell became involved in the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, eventually rising to the position of executive director of the national non-profit organization with the mission to increase the number of American Indian scientists and engineers. She was the first woman to serve in that position.
In a recent interview at Montana State University, Begay-Campbell commented on the abilities of women in science and engineering roles. "Somewhere there is a myth that says that young girls aren't good at math," she said. "I spend my life trying to change that perception." She said she continues to work to break down gender barriers as well as culture barriers.
She has worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory and is currently employed at Sandia National Laboratories as a principal member of the technical staff working with tribal renewable energy throughout the nation.
Since 2001, Begay-Campbell has served the University of New Mexico and the School of Engineering as a regent. In 2000, she was a recipient of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Women from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women. That year she also received the Stanford University Multicultural Alumni of the Year Award.
At Sandia, she has performed considerable public service, applying her technical expertise and knowledge to the special needs of women and minority students of engineering.
Contact: Greg Johnston, (505) 277-1816