Margurita Mann, a Texas native, chose RIT for its strong support of women in STEM, including programs like the Society of Women Engineers. While at RIT, she embraced hands-on learning and overcame challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field, striving to pave the way for others in STEM. A technical writing course left a lasting impact, teaching her the value of clear communication—a skill she now shares as a mentor and trainer. Margurita is dedicated to giving back to the RIT community through scholarships and mentorship and enjoys sewing and creating Halloween costumes in her free time.

Margurita currently works for the Department of Defense as a Project Manager. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and fellow alum, Justin Mann, BS ’17 (Civil Engineering Technology).

Why did you choose to attend RIT?
I’m originally from Texas and had not heard of RIT until I received an invitation from them to apply. I was really drawn to how they wanted to uplift women in STEM and showcased programs like the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). During a campus visit, I had an opportunity to visit and stay with a current student and experience the incredible campus and supportive community firsthand.

RIT also gave me the opportunity to arrive early to campus, along with other women engineering students, allowing all of us to create unforgettable memories and lasting bonds. Many of the connections I made during that time remain an important part of my life today.

What about college were you least prepared for?
THE COLD! Coming from Texas, experiencing a blizzard two weeks into the semester, and still having to go to class - was a shock!

In all seriousness, what I had to get used to the most was learning self-discipline and knowing when to ask for help. I think many students come from the same background of breezing through high school, but college requires setting aside additional time to study, visiting your professors to better understand the coursework, and getting to know your fellow classmates to create study groups. Without these habits, it’s easy to fall behind quickly.

Were there any professors or classes that left a lasting impact on you?
I took a technical writing class. At first, I didn’t take it seriously because I didn’t understand why my communication style needed to change in a professional setting, but I was very wrong!

The class showed me how clear and concise communication can be an asset, especially in influencing leadership decisions. I learned that not everyone, especially management, has time to read through or analyze every email for concerns/issues. As the initiator of the communication, it is our job to state the concern in a clear and concise manner. Not everyone you encounter in a decision-making role is technical, and if we cannot explain what is wrong, and what needs to happen in a way that everyone can understand, then we are failing in a key aspect of our role. The communication skills I learned in this class, I still use daily in my current role and teach to any personnel that I train.

How did you navigate being a woman in your field of study at RIT?
I was a bit overwhelmed in the beginning. In many classes, I was the only woman and being the minority in this environment, you tend to feel an immense amount of pressure to leave a positive impression on your classmates and professors. I personally felt that if I failed, or did not exceed expectations, it could impact another woman trying to break into this field. I wanted to do my part in being a success story for women in STEM, so I put my best foot forward to keep the door open for other women coming into the STEM field.

What were your favorite classes and why?
I really enjoyed classes that utilized applied learning such as the machine working and electronics labs. I think it is so easy to focus on the theory of what we do in engineering that the real-life applications can get lost in the process. In my field, designs are the theoretical concepts, but onsite adjustments or changes are almost always necessary due to existing conditions and feasibility issues. I used those lessons learned in the field and was able to apply them back to the theory. The same way most of the applied learning classes at RIT were conducted.

What advice do you have for current students who want to make the most out of their experience at RIT?
My biggest advice would be to join an organization that interests you and really get involved. RIT has such a supportive community with many student-run organizations where you can meet students in different majors and grade levels. This is immensely helpful while in college because you have a support system that you can learn from to better adjust to your life at RIT, but this also builds valuable connections for once you graduate. I would suggest considering joining the executive board for some of the professional organizations on campus. This gives you invaluable experience into what it takes to coordinate with a team and manage large projects/events all while maintaining your schoolwork.

Have you faced or overcome any unique challenges as a woman in your field?
Throughout my career, I have found that I am always being tested whenever joining a new team or when someone new joins my team. Despite having more experience or better credentials, this was a shadow over my career for some time. To add to how uncomfortable that was, I was frequently accused of being emotional or aggressive for even the most mundane correspondence. To overcome this, I found that taking on a trainer/process improvement role on teams reduced a lot of the malice associated with this prejudice. By taking the initiative to train new employees and assist with process improvement, I can quickly showcase my knowledge not only in the field but also with this specific process. This role also further developed my relationship with the teams and how we were able to communicate.

Who is the most influential woman you know and what has she done to affect your life?
I would need to shout out another RIT alum, Alexis Hancock! She was an absolute force on campus, always pushing back against unfair treatment for women and minorities. We connected after graduating through a mutual friend and I am proud to consider her a dear friend now. She has always been true to who she is and what she expects from those around her, and I have always admired her courage to speak up and take action when others were worried about image or consequences. She’s continued to carry this sense of justice and drive with her in her career by working at non-profits like the Electronic Frontier Foundation to defend everyone’s online civil liberties. With her influence I had the courage to push back against unfair practices throughout my career to better support women in the STEM field. Alexis’s influence pushed me to get more involved locally to support my community and even reach back to RIT to find ways to support current and future students through scholarships.

Would you mind sharing a fun fact about yourself?
I enjoy sewing in my free time and making my own Halloween costumes! Halloween being my favorite holiday season.