History

More than sixty years ago, a group of more than sixty pioneering women engineers and engineering students gathered to build a national organization. They met on May 27-28, 1950 to officially form the Society of Women Engineers. When SWE was founded, less than one percent of working engineers were women. The general public still considered engineering to be a masculine profession unsuitable for women.  Still, the women of SWE did not meet as a form of protest. They met purely to focus on developing their abilities as engineers. They wanted to give expression to their potential and contribute to society, as local and national chapters continue to do so today.

Since its founding, SWE has focused its efforts on introducing young women to        careers in engineering. There are approximately 35,000 members (both collegiate and professional) at the national level. . demonstrating to employers and the public the critical role women engineers play in creative teams, and providing support to women engineers as they advance in their careers.

Our Mission:

Empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.