A Synopsis of Difficulties and Benefits of Operating a Local Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi after 2021

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4. A Synopsis of Difficulties and Benefits of Operating a Local Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi after 2021

Local industry-specific professional groups offer members benefits such as networking, community outreach, and lifelong relationships with professional peers. The Mississippi River City (MRC) Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in Vicksburg, MS has faced and overcome numerous challenges while positively impacting its members and the local community since its founding, and particularly since 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national return to office. Challenges have included but are not limited to officer turnover, membership participation, navigating a cease and desist, development of new programming for events, and institutional knowledge transition. Despite the issues faced by the organization, this group of women engineers and scientists have successfully developed friendships, practiced leadership, and contributed to their community. Their community involvement has impacted over one thousand students in three years and is continuing to develop student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The chapter is still growing and revitalizing, and documenting the challenges, solutions, and positive impact can assist similar organizations in reaching their own organizational goals.

2025 International Conference on Bio-mediated and Bio-inspired Geotechnics (ICBBG2025)

General session: Education and outreach in Biogeotechnics