Black History Month: February
In the College of Engineering, all are welcome. To better share the stories of how our faculty, staff, students and alumni are diverse in their many varying forms, we are celebrating various heritage and other nationally recognized months. This recognition will include stories about those in our greater engineering community, as well as sharing events and other opportunities.
Noelle Atieno Mware
Graduate Student
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Q: Describe a bit about your personal and/or professional background.
A: I am a Kenyan and proud alumni of Benedict College (BC!), a historically black college and university (hBCu) in Columbia, SC. While at BC, I took part in various opportunities which have shaped my journey up to this point in life. In 2015, I participated in the summer research program at MIT, working on a project related to the fate, transport and remediation of copper, a heavy metal, in surface water. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering in May 2016. During the summer prior to my graduate studies, I took part in a study-abroad program at Universidad Del Pacifico in Colombia, South America where I helped in teaching English as a second Language (ESL) and learning Spanish. I joined the civil and environmental engineering department (CEE) at UNL in August 2016 and I am currently a PhD candidate in environmental engineering. My dissertation is on Novel Mitigation Strategies for Antimicrobial Resistance Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Beef Cattle Manure Management.
Q: What is your role in the College of Engineering – and what do you enjoy (love!) about what you are doing?
A: I am a graduate research assistant in the CEE department under the mentorship of Dr. Xu Li and Dr. Shannon Bartelt-Hunt. I have also served as a graduate teaching assistant for the introduction to Environmental Engineering lab class. I am grateful that UNL has given me the avenues to take part in several passions while at the college of engineering (COE). I have been a part of the COE Graduate Students Advisory Board, and previously served as the president of the CEE Graduate Students Association. In conjunction, I have a strong passion in serving my community and others through leadership and mentorship. I strongly advocate for mental health, wellbeing and inclusivity, and communicate the need to prioritize self-care. As a woman, and a Black woman in engineering, I take pride in being a member of the UNL chapters of Graduate Society of Women Engineers (Grad-SWE), and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).
Q: Why is it important to celebrate one’s heritage? Why is it meaningful to you and your family? Is there a specific example/event/tradition of how you showcase or celebrate your heritage in its many forms?
A: It is important to celebrate our heritage as a reminder of our culture, traditions,who we are as a people, and our background. These celebrations bring families together and strengthen bonds within families and communities. In our family, it has been our tradition to come together to celebrate important functions. For example, every festive season i.e., Christmas and New Year’s, we would travel to our ancestral home to converge with the family to celebrate these events in dance and festivities. I have kept this tradition alive by building close friendships that have grown to become family here in the US and we travel far and wide to celebrate each other. Creating these familial relationships makes me identify as a student of life, a daughter to my many mothers, a sister to my multi-diverse family and a friend to many.
Q: How do you bring your own unique background to your role/responsibilities in the college or your professional life?
A: Coming from Kenya, attending a HBCU and thereafter joining UNL, I have learnt a great deal of flexibility in accepting and appreciating diverse cultures. I have also built a strong supportive community that has played a big role in my involvement thus far. I continually show up as a Black woman in STEM, being aware that my journey will help determine the inclusion of those that come after me in the same niche. Building a sense of community is important to my heritage. As we say, “as one I am feeble but as many we are strong” and “ I am, because you are” as goes the Ubuntu philosophy.
Q: What advice or words of wisdom could you share with others in our engineering community (staff, faculty, students, alums)?
A: Having a passion for engineering goes hand in hand with showing up to do the work. My advice to those in engineering is to make meaningful relationships with your professors and colleagues. Get involved in campus activities such as student organization,nationally renowned organizations, and volunteering efforts on campus and surrounding communities. Seek support and build a strong supportive network of individuals who will encourage your success. Remember, if you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go with others. In this marathon (not a sprint) having a sense of support from like-minded individuals is beneficial to your success. Also, being open to other perspectives is vital for growth. Always stick to your values and stand up for yourself and others.
