Over the past five years, Anena Metoyer, a system engineering manager at Boeing since 2001, has recruited at the BEYA STEM Conference, NSBE, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and other conferences. More than 90% of the students Anena recruits accept their offers and she continues to mentor them after they join Boeing.

“I’m motivated to see young women and children of color grow and appreciate their talent for science technology engineering and math (STEM) careers. I believe in mentoring and helping students attend college despite their financial situation,” she says.

Anena’s dedication to helping the next generation of engineers has been recognized with Boeing Innovation Awards. Currently, Anena works to apply digital twin concepts to program management and human factors design. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion shines through in all aspects of her leadership in the Airplane Level Engineering Integration organization.

Thirty years ago, Anena was the first Black woman in the industrial and systems engineering program at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She was also the first female engineer at her first job in South Bend, Indiana. And, she was the first female engineering manager on the Boeing F22 Avionics program. It was not always easy being the first.

During the last decade, Anena has served as a member of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Alumni committee, with an emphasis on promoting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs and careers to middle and high school students. In addition, she works with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). She also serves on the UNCF Leadership Council for Washington, Oregon, and Alaska working on strategies to help students handle the impact and operating environment of COVID-19.