About Purdue SWE
Our Mission Statement
Empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.
History
Get to Know Us
Founded in 1954 with approximately 20 members, the Purdue SWE section is the oldest continuously chartered SWE section in the country. Purdue SWE established its first scholarship in 1967, launched its annual Awards Program in 1973, and in 1974 became the first organization to enter the Purdue Grand Prix with an all-female crew and driver.
Today, Purdue SWE has grown to over 600 members, making it one of Purdue’s largest student organizations and one of the largest SWE collegiate sections nationwide. The section has earned numerous regional and national honors, including more than 10 Region H Best Section awards, national recognition, and consistent Gold and Silver awards since 2018. In 2025, Purdue SWE also received Purdue’s Student Organization of the Year Excellence Award for its longstanding impact in leadership, service, programming, and community. Purdue alumnae have gone on to serve as National SWE presidents, fellows, board members, and national officers, continuing a legacy of leadership that began more than 70 years ago.