🌟SHPE Student Spotlight: Lucia Garcia 🌟
We are delighted to highlight Lucia Garcia, a recent graduate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, who has made a remarkable impact in the Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering (CBEE) department at UMBC. Her community leadership, dedication, and academic achievements truly show Lucia’s commitment to empowering students in STEM.
Lucia graduated in the Spring of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering – Environmental Engineering & Sustainability track. As a first-generation college student, she accomplished an extraordinary feat by completing her degree within the projected four-year timeframe. Lucia’s passion for her field and strong work ethic allowed her to excel academically while contributing to the UMBC community.
During her time at UMBC, Lucia served as the Vice President for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers – University of Maryland Baltimore County, from January 2022 to May 2023. In this role, she facilitated numerous successful extracurricular and promotional events for Latinx students in STEM. Lucia’s leadership skills proved to be effective, with a significant increase in engagement from community members during her time as the SHPE Ambassador from May 2021 to December 2021.
Beyond her extracurricular accomplishments, Lucia made valuable contributions as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the CBEE department at UMBC. She worked under Dr. Chris Hennigan, focusing on measuring the toxicity of transition metals in urban particulate matter, with upcoming published research from the on-campus lab. She also held an internship with the U.S. Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, joining the Energy Science team to create a prototype for a renewable energy resource. Lucia’s work demonstrates her commitment to addressing climate and environmental issues, particularly from an atmospheric standpoint. Her goal is to alleviate the challenges faced by lower-income and typically minority communities, who are disproportionately affected by these issues.
Lucia’s outstanding efforts have not gone unnoticed. This spring, she was recognized as the Black/Latine/x Student Leader of the Year, a well-deserved honor that acknowledges her exceptional leadership skills, impact, and dedication to fostering inclusivity within the UMBC community.
As Lucia embarks on the next chapter of her journey, we are confident that her passion, intellect, and commitment to making a difference will continue to drive her success. Lucia embodies the spirit of academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement, and we can’t wait to witness her future achievements.
Join us in celebrating Lucia Garcia’s accomplishments and wishing her the very best in her future endeavors!
