Cordelia Ontiveros, associate dean for academic programs and student services for the College of Engineering has received the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) Change Agent Award for her efforts in diversifying the student body and the faculty of the college.
“The University Change Agent Award honors an individual who has made positive impacts within their academic institution with regard to the climate for women in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, with an emphasis on engineering,” according to WEPAN.
Ontiveros’s efforts include founding the Cal Poly Pomona Women in Engineering (CPP WE) program in 2012. The program focuses on recruitment and retention of young women engineers. Since the founding of CPP WE, the percentage of females among entering freshmen students in the college has increased from 13 percent to over 21 percent, with a third of them being Hispanic.
Her initiatives for faculty have also been proven to be a success. During her tenure, the college has roughly doubled its number of female faculty members. Additionally, she has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at improving the climate for female and minority faculty, and encouraging leadership for female faculty.