The College of Engineering honors employees who go above and beyond with their Awards for Excellence each year. This year, Latha Dombro, MEM’s Program Specialist, received this award to honor her hard work and dedication. In 2023, the MEM Program experienced an increase in students while having limited staff. “Despite this increased workload, Latha conceptualized, planned, and implemented a number of high-impact program initiatives dramatically improving the MEM Program,” said interim director Brandon McConnell. “She has clearly exceeded her role’s expectations.” During her time in the MEM Program, Dombro has launched many projects to support the students and the program. “Latha has consistently demonstrated a high level of commitment, leadership, and innovation, making invaluable contributions across various initiatives,” remarked McConnell. Among these initiatives is the Career Fair, which she organized for the second consecutive year for MEM students. This event serves as a platform for companies to connect with talented MEM students for postgraduate employment opportunities.
Under Dombro’s leadership, the MEM Program also established chapters in the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM) and the Graduate Student Association (GSA), providing students with valuable networking opportunities and professional development resources. “These two student chapters would not exist today without her efforts,” added McConnell. Moreover, she introduced Quinncia, an AI resume-building tool, and organized workshops for resume refinement and mock interviews, equipping students with essential skills for their career pursuits.
Dombro’s commitment to facilitating meaningful interactions between students and industry professionals led to the implementation of the Speed Networking Night. As a twist on Speed Dating, Dombro recruited industry professionals from Lenovo, Edward Jones, Elevate Services and more to meet with small groups of students. This event provides students valuable guidance, networking opportunities and insights into various career paths. When reflecting on the event’s success, Dombro commented, “MEM ambassadors were apprehensive that students would enjoy this event, but it turned out to be one of the biggest hits and most attended events. This was my favorite from beginning to end, and I can’t wait to put on the next one!”
The Peer Mentorship Program, another idea of Dombro’s, aims to foster a supportive academic environment by pairing students with mentors who provide guidance, share resources, and help navigate challenges. The overwhelmingly positive response from students underscores the program’s effectiveness in fostering personal and professional growth. “The students have loved having someone they can reach out to. Someone who is relatable and has gone through some, if not all, the same challenges and can help guide them on a more personal level,” remarked Dombro.
Reflecting on her journey, Dombro emphasized, “Bet on yourself,” as she shared, “You will never lose when you bet on yourself.” She expresses gratitude for receiving the award, noting, “Having moved to NC during the height of COVID with no job lined up and two young kids in tow, winning this award is significant. It is one of the many signs that I made the right decision, to not only move but to make a shift in my career from K-12 education to Higher Ed. It means quite a bit to be recognized in such a short amount of time.”
Dombro’s unwavering dedication to student success and innovative program initiatives have left an indelible mark on the MEM program at NC State. Her commitment to fostering a supportive and enriching academic environment exemplifies the power of education. As Dombro continues to inspire and empower students, her work will undoubtedly shape future generations of leaders and innovators in engineering management.