SHPE Out Loud: Leading Hispanics in STEM

In this special episode of SHPE Out Loud , we revisit an inspiring conversation with Joelle Romeu, a distinguished aerospace engineer from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Now based in Southern California and working at Boeing, Joelle has broken barriers and achieved incredible milestones throughout her career. This full-length interview, originally recorded two years ago, marks a significant moment for our...

In this episode of SHPE Out Loud, we sit down with Albert Alfaro, an engineer with an inspiring journey from watching Apollo missions as a child in San Antonio, Texas, to serving in the U.S. Air Force and building a successful career in aerospace engineering. Albert shares the challenges he faced growing up as a Latino in the Space Age, how he carved his path into STEM, and his deep commitment to...

In the 35th episode of our "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, we sit down with Rogelio Mendoza, a dedicated member of SHPE's National Board of Directors. With over five years of experience, Rogelio shares invaluable insights and practical strategies for SHPE chapter leaders—whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen your chapter's impact. In this episode, host D...

Welcome to today's podcast! We have a very special guest with us today, James Narey, a distinguished professional widely recognized for his exceptional career in the aerospace industry and his unwavering commitment to SHPE. James has not only made significant strides in his professional career but also dedicated himself to mentoring and fostering the next generation of STEM leaders. In this in...

In this inspiring 33rd episode of our “50 Stories for 50 Years” series, we sit down with Michelle Davis Vargas, Associate Director of Quality and Vice President of Student Affairs for the SHPE San Diego Professional Chapter. Michelle’s remarkable journey from her childhood in Nicaragua to becoming a respected leader in STEM is a testament to her determination, resilience, and the power of communit...

In the 32nd episode of our "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, we are honored to feature Manny Hernandez, a senior manager at Raytheon Company and a pillar of SHPE community. Since joining SHPE in 1988, Manny has been a driving force in the organization, serving on the board for over 22 years and playing a crucial role in its growth and success. Join producer Alex Wait as he sits down with...

Hola Familia! Welcome to the 31st episode of SHPE Out Loud. Today’s episode is extra special as we feature our very first father-son duo on the podcast! Join us as we dive into the inspiring journey of Lazaro, a seasoned mechanical engineer at Northrop Grumman and a first-generation immigrant, alongside his 17-year-old son, Samuel. Samuel is already making waves as the president of the SHPE Junior...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud, the podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In this milestone 30th episode of our "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait introduces us to Ernesto "Ernie" Felix, the Chief of Staff & Human Resources at SHPE. Ernie has been part of SHPE for over two decades, bringing a wealth of experience and insight from...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud! In our 29th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait sits down with Karen Santos, a Cloud Platform Specialist at IBM and the current Board Secretary of SHPE. Born in Mexico and raised in San Diego, Karen’s journey from receiving her first Mac computer at age 10 to becoming an influential leader in STEM is nothing short of inspirin...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud, the podcast where we amplify the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In our 28th episode of the “50 Stories for 50 Years” series, producer Alex Wait sits down with Eduardo Flores, the mastermind behind the internet’s most famous engineering memes page, with over 400,000 Instagram followers and millions of views monthly. Eduardo, known as the "Engineering Memes guy,&quo...

Welcome back, Familia, to another inspiring episode of SHPE Out Loud, where we amplify the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In our 27th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait brings you a special conversation with Claudia Goggin, the accomplished CEO of Engi-Mat Co. Claudia, a Chemical Engineer with a Masters from the University of Florida and an MBA from the Uni...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud, the podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In our 26th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait brings us a captivating conversation with Leonard Abeyta, one of SHPE's original members who has witnessed and contributed to its transformation over the decades. Leonard Abeyta, Principal at Abeyta Group C...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud, the podcast that amplifies the voices of Hispanics in STEM. Today marks a special milestone as we celebrate our 25th episode in the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series—halfway through this incredible journey! In this episode, producer Alex Wait sits down with Beatriz Garcia, Co-Founder of Your Truth At Work, a consulting firm specializing in DEI programs. Beat...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud, the podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In our 24th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait takes the helm to introduce a special guest from within the SHPE family. Today's episode features Myriam Lopez, Senior Manager of Corporate Relations at SHPE. Myriam is the driving force behind the amazing...

Welcome back, Familia! It's time for another inspiring episode in our "50 Stories for 50 Years" series. Today marks our 23rd episode, and we have a short but powerful interview lined up for you. Join host Demian Servín Hernández as he speaks with Natalie Davila-Rendon, a systems engineer at Lockheed Martin and a true powerhouse in the STEM community. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, N...

Welcome to the 22nd episode of "50 Stories for 50 Years" on SHPE Out Loud, the podcast dedicated to amplifying the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In this episode, producer Alex Wait introduces us to the multi-talented Diana Iracheta, also known as Latina Engineer. Diana, an immigrant from Mexico, found herself as the lone Latina in many of her college mechanical engineering classes. Seekin...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud, the podcast where we amplify the voices of Hispanics in STEM. In our 21st episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, we are thrilled to feature the incredible story of Antonina Robles, a trailblazing SHPEtina making waves in the STEM community. Antonina Robles, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager at HP in Boise, Idaho, has a remarkable...

Hola Familia! Welcome back to another exciting episode of SHPE Out Loud, where we amplify the voices of Hispanics in STEM. I’m Alex Wait, the producer of the show, and today marks the 20th episode in our "50 Stories for 50 Years" series. This special installment brings you a dynamic duo: Fernanda Sulantay and Sonia Camacho, two incredible STEM content creators who are as close to SHPE ce...

Welcome to SHPE Out Loud, your platform for celebrating the narratives of Hispanics in STEM. In our 19th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, host Alex Wait introduces us to Luis Conde, a Senior Systems Engineer with a remarkable journey from Puerto Rico to prestigious engineering institutions and impactful leadership roles. Join us as Luis shares his transformative experienc...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud! In our 18th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, your producer Alex Wait brings you a special encore interview with the remarkable Julio Grapa. As a pivotal figure in SHPE's history and a Director at Procter & Gamble, Julio's story is too inspiring to be contained in just one episode. Previously, Julio shared his childhood, career jo...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud! In our 17th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, producer Alex Wait presents an extraordinary journey of resilience and success in STEM. Our guest, Oscar Marquina, defies convention with his inspiring tale of triumph. Oscar's path to success took a unique turn as he discovered SHPE after graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree from U...

Join us for the 16th episode of "50 Stories for 50 Years" on SHPE Out Loud, where we celebrate the inspiring journeys of Hispanics in STEM. Hosted by Alex Wait, this episode features Heidy Arriola, a dedicated SHPEtina and Lifetime Member making waves in the water industry. As a Regional Account Manager at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, Hiedy brings her expertise in chemical...

Welcome back to SHPE Out Loud! In our 14th episode of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, host Demian Servín Hernández continues the captivating tale of Ismael Mendoza, following up on last week's episode featuring his wife, Yuliana Porras-Mendoza. Ismael's journey mirrors Yuliana's in many ways, from their shared experiences at the Colorado School of Mines to their involve...

Welcome to another compelling episode of SHPE Out Loud, your destination for uplifting stories of Hispanics in STEM. In our 13th installment of the "50 Stories for 50 Years" series, host Alex Wait presents a captivating two-part feature, beginning with the remarkable journey of Yuliana Porras-Mendoza. Yuliana, currently the ONE Water Practice Leader at Garver, shares her inspiring path f...

In this captivating episode of our podcast, we invite Elio Morillo to share his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to extraordinary achievements in the aerospace industry. Delving into Elio's personal story, we learn about his migration from Ecuador at a young age, facing economic and domestic challenges, to eventually finding a new home and opportunities in the United States. Elio'...