The SEI Bridge the Gap program provided small grant funding from the SEI Futures Fund in November for these local SEI Chapters to run programs promoting student and professional member interaction to attract and retain students as life-long, active SEI members.
The SEI Graduate Student Chapter at the University of Cincinnati held a networking dinner at a local brewery for UC students to connect with local professional engineers. David Odeh, P.E., S.E., SECB, F.SEI, F.ASCE, sparked engaging conversations by presenting on Trends in Structural Engineering covering the use of current digital technologies in design projects, the trends of advancing technology such as machine learning and AI, and ongoing work at SEI that will affect current and future professionals.
The SEI Lehigh Valley Chapter hosted a dinner, with panel discussion and networking at Lehigh University, to introduce engineering students from Lehigh, Lafayette College, and Kings College to professionals in practice. The students were very engaged and stayed late, asking questions of the early career panelists who shared tips on navigating the transition to their first jobs and the benefits of ASCE/SEI membership in building a vital network for friendship, mentorship, job opportunities, etc.
Impact the future of structural engineering and programs like this with a gift to the SEI Futures Fund www.asce.org/SEIFuturesFund