The New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering (NMNWSE) has selected Dr. Shelly Gruenig as the recipient of its 2026 IMPACT! Award, recognizing her dedication to STEM education, mentorship, and advancing opportunities for women and girls.
Presented annually, the IMPACT! Award honors a New Mexico woman for extraordinary efforts to encourage and help women enter and succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and to promote networking and communication among women in these fields.
Gruenig is the founder and executive director of R4Creating, a New Mexico nonprofit providing hands-on STEM learning, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities for young people. Her work connects students with experiences that build technical skills, confidence, and awareness of STEM education and career pathways.
An educator, entrepreneur, and award-winning robotics coach, Gruenig also shares STEM opportunities through the STEM Southwest podcast. Her outreach helps families discover ways to engage in science and technology and supports students as they explore their interests and plan their futures.
Through this award, NMNWSE celebrates Gruenig’s commitment to empowering students and expanding opportunities for women and girls in New Mexico’s STEM community.
Gruenig will be honored at the 2026 NMNWSE IMPACT! Award Presentation Banquet on October 24, 2026, during the Network’s Annual Meeting and Technical Symposium in Los Lunas, New Mexico.
NMNWSE encourages women to enter and succeed in STEM careers through mentorship, professional connections, youth outreach, technical meetings, and community activities.
