{"id":8247,"date":"2025-05-06T18:22:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T18:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/?p=8247"},"modified":"2025-05-06T18:22:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T18:22:08","slug":"the-first-female-graduate-of-the-master-of-science-in-mechanical-engineering-at-tarleton-state-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/2025\/05\/06\/the-first-female-graduate-of-the-master-of-science-in-mechanical-engineering-at-tarleton-state-university\/","title":{"rendered":"The first female graduate of the Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Tarleton State University"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Sunney<\/figure>
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Breaking Barriers: Sunney Lemons-Bowden’s Journey as Tarleton State University\u2019s First Female Mechanical Engineering Grad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Tarleton State University wasn\u2019t something I took lightly. My entire program was completed online while balancing a full-time job as an automation engineer, planning a wedding, staying close to family and friends, and managing a course load heavier than full-time. There were times I felt like I was standing still while others moved forward in their careers. But I realized I wasn\u2019t behind\u2014I was exactly where God needed me. In the chaos, He gave me grace, community, and joy. My professors were incredibly supportive, and my online classmates, though I never met most in person, became a true source of encouragement. Through it all, I grew not only academically but personally and spiritually. My husband\u2019s daily support reminded me I was capable and never alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Discovering My Calling in Engineering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, learning didn\u2019t come easy. But my parents believed in me and helped me see it as a strength. I used to hate math\u2014until Mrs. Jones came along. She made it make sense and was the first person to tell me I had an engineering brain. Her belief in me changed everything. After praying, researching, and seeking guidance from mentors, I found my calling in mechanical engineering at Tarleton State University. I wouldn\u2019t be here without the love and support of those who walked alongside me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Challenges\u2014and the Strength That Came From Them<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate school was demanding. One assignment could take several days, and being the only woman in the program added to the weight. But what surprised me most was the community we built online. My classmates became teammates, and we helped carry each other through. My husband\u2019s encouragement became my lifeline. His faith in me helped me keep going when I questioned myself. I was reminded that perseverance isn\u2019t meant to be done alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why I Chose Tarleton State University<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, I hesitated at first. The program was new, and school had always been hard for me. But I knew if I didn\u2019t start, I might never try. Tarleton State University felt like home\u2014especially after helping found the Society of Women Engineers chapter during undergrad. What made Tarleton State University special was how known and valued I felt. Professors from outside my discipline encouraged me and poured into my journey. That kind of care is something I\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becoming the First<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being the first woman to graduate from this program is humbling. It\u2019s not just my achievement\u2014it’s a reflection of every person who helped me get here. I hope my story encourages others, especially women and those with dyslexia, to keep moving forward even when the path is unclear. When God calls you to something, He equips you for it. I\u2019m living proof of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Field<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenges were real\u2014from being overlooked in school to facing discrimination in the workforce. At times, it was heartbreaking. But I leaned into my faith, reminded myself of my worth, and showed up with excellence. That quiet, daily perseverance is how real change begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice for Women in Engineering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Know your strengths. Work on your weaknesses. But don\u2019t let either define your value. Emotional intelligence, compassion, and care are assets. Let your curiosity lead and your mistakes teach. You belong in this field\u2014even if you\u2019re the only woman in the room. Celebrate others. Show up boldly. Be real. You don\u2019t need to be fearless\u2014you just need to be faithful. And remember: if you\u2019re the first, don\u2019t be the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s Next<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, I work as an automation engineer at Emerson Electric Co., but I\u2019ve always been drawn to aerospace. I plan to pursue certifications and training with the hope of working with the Space Force. I also feel called to motherhood. I want to raise children who know they can pursue big dreams and still serve at home. I don\u2019t know what that balance will look like, but I trust the God who called me to both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

by Madison Wooten<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Breaking Barriers: Sunney Lemons-Bowden’s Journey as Tarleton State University\u2019s First Female Mechanical Engineering Grad Pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Tarleton State University wasn\u2019t something I took …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":781,"featured_media":580,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"bartelt","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/author\/bartelt\/"},"featured_img":null,"coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Uncategorized<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Uncategorized<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":0,"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 11 months ago","modified":"Updated 11 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on May 6, 2025","modified":"Updated on May 6, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on May 6, 2025 6:22 pm","modified":"Updated on May 6, 2025 6:22 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/781"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8247"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8250,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8247\/revisions\/8250"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/graduate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}