The College of Engineering attracts a curious, passionate, dedicated and diverse student body. During the 2011-2012 academic year, 1,515 students set on a path to change the world by learning about science, math, physics and technology.

Students hailed from 12 countries and 18 U.S. states and about 13 percent of students came from historically underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. Women comprised about 19 percent of the undergraduate and graduate students, on par with national averages.

 

Finding the American Dream: Alfred Rodriguez

Call Alfred Rodriguez a model student. During high school, Rodriguez voluntarily enrolled in summer classes to improve his English. He graduated from high school as valedictorian. Before his first college semester, he participated in the University of Rhode Island’s Talent Development Program to sharpen his skills.

As a University of Rhode Island engineering student, he mentored high school students and served as president of the URI Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and his name has always appeared on the Dean’s List. But for Rodriguez, his story is not about academic accolades but his journey.

Rodriguez grew up in Esperanza (or “Hope” in English), an impoverished town in the Dominican Republic. At age 15, his parents sent him to Rhode Island in search of the American Dream.

He arrived knowing only a few family members. His English skills were so lacking that he repeated ninth grade – a blow to his self-esteem.

When Rodriguez failed to navigate the labyrinth of the academy and asked to go home, his family persuaded him to stay. When he struggled academically during freshman year of college, he sought out professors, Minority Student Recruitment and Retention Coordinator Charles Watson and classmates to help him. He participated in several internships to sharpen his skills and build his resume.

Rodriguez credits the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation with sparking his interest in engineering. His high school principal recommended him for the program, and Rodriguez spent 20 days at the University’s Kingston campus exploring engineering. A year later, he picked civil engineering as his major.

“I like to be in the process of putting things together, and after a while seeing the thing you had in your mind come true,” he says.