Holisss!😊
My name is Ashley Nuñez, and I’m a rising junior studying Civil Engineering!✨ I’m also pursuing a Certificate in Engineering Leadership through RCEL and a minor in Engineering Design. 
I’m beyond excited to be a part of the iSEED program this summer🫶, where we’ll be traveling to Mexico City and Chiapas to study sustainability, infrastructure, and community development in a global context.
At Rice, I stay busy with a mix of academics and student involvement. I work in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, where I help with front desk logistics and budgeting tasks. (I may or may not have unofficially dubbed myself “Department Assistant”😝). Outside of classes, I’m involved in HACER (Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice), where I serve as the secretary aka I send cute emails.💌
What I Hope to Learn in iSEED 🌎✨
I’ve been thinking a lot about what this program means to me, not just as an engineering student, but as a first-generation Latina passionate about building equitable and sustainable cities.💛
Through iSEED, I’m hoping to see how infrastructure and urban design are shaped by social, cultural, and environmental forces that differ from those in the U.S. I want to explore how engineers collaborate with local governments and communities in Mexico to address water access, mobility, and climate resilience. I’m especially excited to see sustainable transportation projects in action (Metrobus, anyone?🚍👀) and to connect the dots between technical design and human-centered impact.
Beyond the academics, I also want to grow personally! I want to step outside my comfort zone, speak more Spanish in a professional context, and immerse myself in Mexican history and daily life. I’m excited to try new foods, explore local markets, and maybe even dance a little cumbia if the opportunity arises!
Fun Fact!💫
I’m raising a service dog!
Her name is Mamba🐾💗, yes she is sooo cute!
(Everybody say hola Mambacita!🤗)
I can’t wait to share more from the ground in Mexico, stay tuned!
See ya soon besties!😝