Minority Leadership Program sparks involvement of younger members

The Minority Leadership Program was created in 1995 as a way to get younger members interested and involved in ASME.

Frank J. Garcia

Roughly 50 percent of program graduates have remained active in ASME and are currently working with such groups as the Young Engineers Committee, Board on Minorities and Women, Board on Pre-College Education and Committee on Membership.

The deadline for the 2001-2002 internships is July 15. Applications will be available in mid-May; interested members can also apply online at www.asme.org/bmw. (You also can go there for more information.)

A review and selection of interns will be done in August by a BMW committee. Interns will be informed shortly thereafter.

Frank J. Garcia was a Minority Leadership Intern in 1999-2000. He worked with the Board on Safety Codes and Standards. He told ASME NEWS about how the program was beneficial to him.

ASME NEWS: How have you benefited from the program?

Garcia: The MLP provided me with a shortcut path in learning the structure and workings of ASME.

ASME NEWS: Has the program furthered your activities within ASME? Your career?

Garcia: MLP absolutely has done this. My internship with the Committee of Engineering Accreditation gave me firsthand knowledge of the accreditation process and issues, and was beneficial to my own department since we were undergoing preparations for our own accreditation.

During my internship, I became knowledgeable enough about the accreditation process that I was trained to become an ASME accreditation evaluator. I will be conducting my first official visit this fall.

In addition, through the network I developed I was recommended for and received an appointment to the Board on Pre-College Education. I look forward to meeting a new group of people and learning about their activities.

ASME NEWS: Would you recommend that fellow engineers and ASME members apply for this program?

Garcia: Without reservation.

ASME NEWS: Any other comments about the program?

Garcia: I believe that the MLP has achieved its goal of bringing new people into the working structure of ASME. I think more of our younger members should take advantage of the program.

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