Kelly Nguyen || Issue 10 || December 3rd 2024
Hudson Valley is seeing a milestone in its Applied Technologies Department, with a record number of female students enrolled in its automotive technology degree certificate programs. This fall, 12 women are pursuing automotive-related majors. This is one of the highest percentages of female students in this field over the college’s history. Currently, ~8.4% of the automotive department’s student population is women. Hudson Valley offers several automotive programs, those including Automotive Management A.A.S, Automotive Technical Services A.O.S, Automotive Technical Services-AutoBody Repair A.O.S, and Electric and Autonomous Vehicles A.O.S and certificate. Chris McNally, Department Chair of Applied technologies, believes that this shift is particularly significant. The college’s student body is 53 percent female, seeing an incremental increase of women in automotive programs is a noteworthy shift. For HVCC, this achievement is not about numbers- it’s about creating an inclusive environment for all students. McNally shared, “Through conversations with graduates, current students, and nationally recognized experts in attracting and retaining female students in STEM programs, we have worked intentionally to make these programs more welcoming to female students.” The increase in female enrollment in HVCC’s automotive programs is a clear indication of a broader shift in the industry. As demand for technicians continues to rise, diversity in the workplace is essential for meeting challenges of a rapidly changing field. A new perspective could be helpful.
The Hudsonian 