How Dr. Nicole Mendoza ’07 ’13 Is Leveling the Playing Field for Students in STEM

When Dr. Nicole Mendoza ’07 ’13 sees a need, she takes action. It’s why she chose to work in renewable energy and spends many hours mentoring young women and underrepresented students entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. And it’s especially why she included the Texas A&M Foundation in her estate plans.  

Mendoza, who spent 10 years at Texas A&M University earning her bachelor’s and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, is a senior researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. There, she pioneers clean energy innovations that protect and preserve the environment. 
 

Now, she’s taking action to address a need she sees at Texas A&M and in her industry: fixing the “leaky pipeline” of women entering STEM fields. “Many women get tired of the male-dominated atmosphere and leave, or they change paths before ever entering industry,” Mendoza shared. “I am passionate about using whatever influence or mechanisms I have to address that.”  
 

With this in mind, Mendoza established a gift to the Foundation through a bequest in her estate plans, which will fund a scholarship after her lifetime that will support women and underserved students pursuing aerospace engineering or STEM degrees.  
 

Mendoza emphasized that the Foundation made the bequest-making process easy and transparent. As a donor who is still in her 30s, she hopes her gift not only impacts future students but also inspires others, especially young former students, to meet with the Foundation team and plan a gift to Texas A&M.  

“Giving isn’t only for people late in their career,” Mendoza explained. “I don’t have $25,000 right now to create an endowment, but I know for a fact I will have the resources later. Making a planned gift was part of how I could do my part to level the playing field for future students.”