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3 School of Engineering students selected as Minority Student Fellows by transportation group

August 23, 2021 - by Kim Delker

Three students in The University of New Mexico School of Engineering have been selected as 2022 Minority Student Fellows by the Transportation Research Board (TRB).

The TRB Minority Student Fellows Program funds students from minority-serving institutions to attend and present their research at the organization’s annual meeting and help them engage in TRB’s network of transportation professionals.

photo of 3 winners
Left to right: Dominic Thompson, Jennifer Restrepo, Esther Bia

  • Esther Bia, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering
  • Jennifer Restrepo, who is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering
  • Dominic Thompson, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

To ensure that solutions to the nation’s transportation problems address people from a variety of backgrounds, TRB established the Minority Student Fellows Program in 2010 to actively explore research, ideas, and solutions from diverse perspectives. This program seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the transportation field and in TRB activities.

In 2022, 15 undergraduate and nine graduate students studying in disciplines that include civil engineering, urban planning, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, earth science and sustainable built environments have been selected to take part in the program. The fellows will participate in TRB’s 2022 annual meeting with paper presentations and numerous other activities, including Young Members Council sessions, the new attendee welcome event, a career panel, a networking lunch and committee meetings.