What is SWE?
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), founded in 1950, is a non-profit educational and service organization. SWE is a driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and receive the recognition and credit for their life-changing contributions and achievements as engineers and leaders.
The Central Illinois Section of SWE was chartered in 1992. This vibrant section has been recognized on multiple occasions at the regional and national level. There are just over 100 members from companies like Caterpillar, State Farm, Chillicothe Metal Works, Peoria County Highway, Bradley University, Hallmark, and Rockwell. The diverse membership includes women who are just entering the work force, women who are staying home to focus on family, and more experienced women who are high level managers and technical experts. The section is a part of Region H, whose boundaries can be viewed here.
The Central Illinois SWE Section holds a variety of events for its members. Typically there are two to three events per month, ranging from professional development presentations to outreach activities to networking lunches and social outings to technical tours and work/life balance events. Past events included an interactive panel discussion on “Work life Balance: Realistic or Idealistic”, a hardhat tour of the new Peoria Airport Terminal building, a membership happy hour at Kellehers, and hosting an activity table at Lakeview Museum for Engineering Week. For members wanting to get more involved, the Executive Committee meets monthly and all members are welcome to attend.
For more information about the Society, please visit societyofwomenengineers.swe.org or email the Central Illinois SWE Section at SWE.central.Illinois@swe.org.
SWE Mission
- Stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders
- Expand the image of the engineering profession as a positive force in improving the quality of life
- Demonstrate the value of diversity
Get Involved!
Please contact us at SWE.Central.Illinois@swe.org or check out our Calendar and join us at our next event.
