Shpe Rice

The Rice University student chapter of The Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES) was founded in 1989. Former Rice student John Rodriguez with Dr. Richard Tapia founded the chapter that would be one of the best in the nation for many years. For six years, the small chapter averaged about five members per year. It was not until the summer of 1994 that dedicated students Griselda Mani, Mike Fuentes and Marco Leal took the initiative to revive the organization. The following school year, 1994-1995, membership doubled. Under the leadership of Griselda Mani (who served from 94-96), Joaquin Salas (96-98), Ariel Flores (97-99), Martin Virgen (99-00), Jesse Gracia/Paco Maldonado (00-01), Charles Vega (01-02), Jesse Cruz (02-03), Paul Rodriguez (03-04), Jason Sedano (04-05), Mike Ramon (05-06), Maria Martinez (06-07), and Daniela Rimer (07-08) the Rice MAES Chapter has grown. The MAES national organization (est. California 1974) serves as the chapter’s parent organization. In 1997, the organization decided to join The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). The students realized that inclusion in both MAES and SHPE would bring more opportunities for the members. At that time the organization was known as MAES/SHPE. The organization was renamed two years later to The Association of Latin American Engineers and Scientists (ALAES) in order to be more inclusive for engineering and science students from the Rice community. In 2006 the chapter decided to change its name from ALAES to SHPE to increase campus recognition and increase it’s participation in SHPE activities.