2019 Hispanic American Energy STEM Institute (HAESI)

  Hispanic population growth in the U.S. complements the expansion and progress of the American energy industry and positions Hispanics/Latinos to become the energy workforce of the future. The Hispanic American Energy STEM Institute aims to increase the attraction, retention, and graduation rates of Hispanics in STEM through increased access, awareness, and support toward energy industry opportunities throughout the educational (K-20) and professional pipeline based on direct engagement and guidance between policy, academia, and industry.

 Dean García from the University of Incarnate Word detailed the surplus of STEM occupations in the energy arena from batteries to biofuels, but noted the declining rate of Latinos through higher education, time and relationship management, and breaking down barriers of what STEM majors should look like is essential to amplify Latinos in the STEM Energy careers.

Gloria Corral, from the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE), shared the organizations ability to increase high school graduation rates and family engagement through direct interaction with parents to communicate the importance of STEM degrees in a community first model.

 David Ortíz, COO of HACU, dissected the expansion and reach of over 523 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Hispanic Serving School Districts (HSSDs) across the nation that are essential to STEM access and awareness. These institutions are vital to cultivating the next generation of problem solvers and nation-wide economic growth with HSIs accounting for 7 of the 10 top Universities for upward economic mobility.

Commissioner Sadzi Martha Oliva discussed the importance of roundtable discussions and workshops to build resolutions and relationships between the utility sector and Latino communities, and how supplier diversity is one way to reduce the disparity in credit, access, and resources for all minorities.

Rebecca Winkle from American Petroleum Institute (API) addressed the need for career replacement requirements and female engagement in the oil and natural gas industry. She discussed an upcoming report from API detailing the vast and lucrative opportunities for a STEM workforce of the future that is poised to grow. 

Rafaela Schwan, COO of SER jobs for Progress, discussed the impact and vast reach of their current workforce development progress through providing staff in the communities of need to assist in educating the workforce about available opportunities.

Dora Renaud disclosed the national reach and goals of Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) to provide resources, mentoring, and a network to Latinos throughout the academic and professional pipeline across all STEM disciplines. The growing membership and influential network is pivotal to place-making and opportunity awareness for developing leading Hispanics in STEM.

• Educate student and parents about exit point for various education levels and associated costs.
• Investment in places of need for certain energy industries (NE- wind, S – O&G)
• Find internal champions to reduce gatekeeper mentality within D&I
• Develop ways to communicate accomplishments in this space
• Build Pilot studies and regional relationships with HSIs and industries
• Work with HR recruiters to understand deficiencies in this space
• Dean meet with industry execs in one space

Join us for the Energy Legislative Policy Summit in Washington DC on February 12, 2020.