Degree: Networks and Digital Technology, B.A.
Department: Computer Science and Engineering
Hometown: Pomona, CA
“I hope to leverage my experience as an STEM major and inventor to support rural, low-income school districts as an educator.”
Katia Avila Pinedo is in her final year pursuing a bachelors in networks and digital technology at UC Santa Cruz. As a dedicated member of the Baskin Engineering community, Pinedo has actively engaged in initiatives supporting underrepresented students in engineering. She is passionate about education and mentorship, and hopes to continue inspiring students in rural, low-income school districts to pursue pathways in STEM.
Why did you choose to study at Baskin Engineering?
I felt like there was a place for me in the Baskin Engineering community. The summer before my freshman year, I was invited to participate in the Baskin Engineering Excellence Scholars (BEES) program offered by the MESA Engineering Program. I connected with incoming freshmen from similar backgrounds and spoke with older students who gave us tips on how to succeed as People of Color in engineering. Meeting a small part of the Baskin Engineering community before the start of the school year made me feel less anxious on my first day of class.
What experiences shaped your interest in developing technology for social good?
I have always been a crafter. From a young age, I enjoyed do-it-yourself projects, specifically ones that used recycled materials. Then in high school, I was a part of the 2017-18 Garey InvenTeam which received a grant from the Lemelson-MIT program to invent a solution to a real world problem. Our team developed the Heart & Sole, an at-home medical device aimed to monitor the health of a diabetic patient’s foot. In 2022, this invention received a U.S. patent. This experience showed me how technology can be used to address the needs of low-resourced communities, which led to my interest in the tech field.
Tell us about the Department of Education panel discussion you participated in. What led to this opportunity and what did you speak on?
Since my involvement with the Garey InvenTeam, I have been an advocate for invention education in K-12 classrooms, which is an effort to bring creative problem-solving activities to any subject classroom with a focus on the design, prototype, and patent processes. I was invited by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence & Economic Opportunity for Hispanics to share about my invention journey, alongside two other InvenTeam alumni, and other Hispanic guests. The event, called “Creando Futuros Brillantes” (Creating Bright Futures), was held by the U.S. Department of Education and the panel was moderated by Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. We spoke about how our Hispanic heritage has inspired our inventions and how our journeys have encouraged more Hispanics to invent.
Where do you see yourself after graduation?
I hope to leverage my experience as an STEM major and inventor to support rural, low-income school districts as an educator. I aspire to mentor students via invention education to help them discover their passions and use STEM to support them in their chosen career paths. I hope to show others that the greatest inventors are the ones that have less to work with, and more desire to improve their way of life.
This block group hides your featured image, remove this block group to show your featured image again.
