Meet the Board
2023- 2024
President
Dr. Luis A. Palacio, P.E.
Luis Palacio is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Indiana and a Bio-Physicist. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Purdue University. As an engineer, he worked for General Electric Power Conversion at their Global Engineering Headquarters for over 4 years and at Alivio Medical Center for over 2 years. As a scientist, he is currently leading an investigation that studies changes in the molecular structure of proteins that are associated with lung diseases and blood clotting. He has conducted research at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Argonne National Laboratories, and IUPUI. Luis has more than 3 years of combined experience as an educator at the undergraduate level and at the high school level. Luis has been a consultant for GE Electric Power Conversion, Uncommon Engineering, the National Institutes of Health, VoCare, and MedDiary. After 2 years of serving as Director of Programs and Research, Luis is now Executive Director and CEO of Health & Science Innovations, Inc., an Indiana-based not-for-profit 501c3 organization serving the community through education and innovation. Luis is actively engaged in the community directly serving on various advisory boards, teaching, mentoring, and using his engineering skills to design solutions to workforce development, poverty, diversity, and other challenges that affect society.
Vice President
Lizeth Quinones
Lizeth is originally from Bogota, Colombia. Lizeth moved to the United States as a child, where she completed high school and got her Bachelor of Science in Computer Graphics from Purdue University. Shortly after graduating, Lizeth began to work in brand design and re-branding for companies such as Dell, HP, Yum Brands, Advance Auto Parts, Fidelity, and many more. In recent years Lizeth utilized her skills as a digital marketer for Adul and Child Health, where she created the current brand. She also helped build the design structure of Adult and Child websites and set the first digital marketing campaign to help establish Adult and Child in the digital world. Lizeth currently works for Indiana University, assisting in the re-branding effort of a Liberal Arts education in a world moving towards STEM fields. Lizeth enjoys spending time with her family, doing hot yoga, traveling, and watching movies.
Treasurer
Lourdes Palacio
Lourdes Palacio is a Technical Program Manager at Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indianapolis, Indiana. Lourdes is responsible for managing resources and budgets for programs with US AFRL, consortiums, and universities for the Rolls-Royce materials and capability acquisition department and is the founder and president of SOMOS Rolls-Royce, the first Hispanic ERG (employee resource group) at Rolls-Royce Corporation. Lourdes obtained her engineering degrees and MBA from the University of Texas at El Paso and has worked for the electronic consumers’ industry, automotive industry, and currently, the aerospace industry in a professional career that spans over 20 years. Lourdes is from El Paso, Texas but has lived in Indianapolis for over 20 years. In Indianapolis, Lourdes founded the SHPE-Indiana Professional chapter and has served as president for many years. She currently serves as the Treasurer. In Fiesta Indianapolis, Lourdes served on the executive board of directors for over 5 years and was responsible for the logistics of Fiesta Indianapolis festival, a one-day event that brought in over 10,000 attendees to downtown Indianapolis for many years. Lourdes is married and has four children, she enjoys reading and making jewelry when free.
Secretary
Shirley Echevarria
Shirley is originally from Barranquilla, Colombia where she finished her Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering. Shirley came to the US in 2008 and completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering at the University of South Florida. Shortly after graduating, she joined Cummins in the Off-Highway Controls department. She spent the first 2 years as Systems Engineer in calibration integration. Later she was controls lead for QSX 15 program and group leader for Off-Highway Custom Calibrations, and technical lead for Off-Highway Controls’ current product where she lead the calibration-related VPCRs and current product cal improvements. She was recently the Systems Validation Leader for Off-Highway products at Cummins. Shirley is currently Assistant TPL for the X15 North America product. During her working period, she also had the opportunity to finish her MBA at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She lives in Columbus with her 2 kids and Husband and is a local volunteer in various organizations. She serves on the board of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Indiana Chapter and enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and dancing.
Membership Chair
Sandra De La Torre
Sandra is originally from Ecuador. She moved to the US in 2014. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering. She currently works at Eli Lilly and Company as a Senior Associate. Sandra has been involved in SHPE since graduate school, where she held different leadership positions such as Recruitment Chair, Event Coordinator, and Marketing Chair. She is the Secretary for the American Chemical Society Indiana Local Section. Sandra enjoys traveling, dancing, hiking, reading, and volunteering.
Marketing Chair
Karen Sotelo
Hailing from Edinburg, Texas, and raised in Leon, Guanajuato, Karen later embraced Texas as their home in 2011. In 2021, she proudly earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Karen joined Avery Dennison in 2022, and swiftly transitioned from a reserved Team Manager overseeing operators to a project management role, earning accolades for their supportive leadership. Outside of work, they find solace in running and artistic pursuits.
Her journey was enriched by SHPE, which offered a vital community, professional growth, and role models. From Secretary to President of SHPE Nebraska, Karen expanded member participation, easing the path for peers to conventions.
Now, fueled by gratitude, they’re excited to reconnect with SHPE, contribute back, and continue uplifting future Hispanic engineers and leaders.
Education & Student Relationships Chair
Dr. Andres Tovar
Andres Tovar, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Mechanical and Energy Engineering and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Industrial Automation from the National University of Colombia in 1995 and 2000, respectively. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and 2005, respectively. At IUPUI, he has been the recipient of the 2015 Wisner-Stoelk Outstanding Faculty Award and the 2016 IU Trustees Teaching Award. He also received the 2014 SAE Ralph R. Teetor Educational Award and First Place in the 2015 ARPA-E LITECAR Challenge. His main research areas include biologically-inspired design, multiscale topology optimization, and design for additive manufacturing. Applications include the design of porous implants and lightweight prosthetics.
Corporate Relationships Chair
Israel Doroteo
Israel is originally from México City. Israel came to the USA- speaking zero English- looking for a chance to improve life for him and his family. Beginning from ESL classes to a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at IUPUI- Purdue School of Engineering and Technology. Israel is passionate about knowledge and has deep interests in robotics, renewable energy, aerospace, and architecture. He has participated in leadership roles such as being the president of the Ivy tech Engineering Society, he has volunteered his time to participate as a community organizer to advocate for education and social justice. Currently working as a design engineer at TreSSS, and he is also a freelance project estimator for a few different companies in the construction/demolition industry. During his personal time, Israel loves running (volunteers to be a pace leader whenever possible) and enjoys studying Philosophy. He is eager to participate with SHPE members and network, learn from those around him and help make a lifelong impact in prospective members.
Community Outreach Chair
Armando Hernandez
Omar Aragonez, a product test engineer at Cummins Fuel Systems, has recently embraced Region 6 with enthusiasm. Originally from the southwest, he was born in a New Mexican town and holds a master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico, specializing in nanosystem technologies and energy harvesting.
Previously, Omar contributed his expertise to a startup focused on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers for lidar applications. Beyond engineering, he’s been an advisor to first-generation, low-income high school students.
Having connected with the professional chapter in Indiana, Omar is excited to share his experiences and contribute to the community. His dedication to both engineering and community impact promises a valuable and inspiring journey ahead.
Membership Chair
Ines Paez Quintero
Ines Paez-Quintero is a Food Science Engineering graduate with a Management and Business Development minor. She began her career in the food industry, even opening her own Ice Cream Company in Colombia. After seeking political asylum in the USA, she focused on her family and assisted her sister in establishing a Dental Clinic in 2015.
In 2020, Ines joined CENSUS, but pandemic-related challenges led to a job loss. Undeterred, she pursued Pastoral Leadership studies, earning certification. She serves as Director of Events and Projects at the Association of Friends of Colombia SADCO, actively participates in the Association of Hispanic Leaders of Lafayette, and volunteers on the Mayor’s Council, co-hosting ‘Connect Indianapolis.’
Ines’ unwavering dedication to community integration and service drives her reentry into the workforce, aiming to contribute to the success of the local SHPE chapter.