Since childhood, Aleida Rios ’91 has known her purpose — to bring energy to the world. In recognition of her engineering excellence, Rios was named an international fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers, making her the first female of Latin descent to receive this honor.
The academy began in 1976 with the support of Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, who became a senior fellow. The fellowship honors only the most distinguished engineers and innovators in the United Kingdom, selecting a mere 50 fellows each year, of which typically five or less are international.
“I am very proud to be named an international fellow of such a prestigious organization,” Rios said. “I will continue to pay it forward and support others with similar backgrounds who deserve to be acknowledged for their contributions to engineering.”
A graduate of the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, Rios spent her early years in a small agricultural town in Mexico. Although quaint, the town only offered schooling through the fifth grade, primarily due to a lack of running water or electricity.
It was there that Rios’ family saw firsthand what energy and education access allowed, immigrating to the U.S. in search of better opportunities.
“Energy gives us so much we don’t see,” she said. “The fact that we can have heated homes and light provides opportunities that other parts of the world don’t have. My ambition comes from a desire to improve people’s quality of life while simultaneously supporting greater access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for underrepresented groups.”
Rios’ family moved when she was only eight years old. At the time, she did not even know what engineering was, but she dreamed of being the first in her family to attend university. To help pay tuition, her brother gave her his car so she could partake in an internship. With her family’s help, Rios became a first-generation student.
“I had privilege, and it may not sound like the kind of privilege that we talk about now,” Rios said. “My privilege was a brother and a family willing to make sacrifices for my education. My greatest achievement to date is receiving my engineering degree from Texas A&M.”
Rios graduated with a chemical engineering degree, immediately jumpstarting her career in the industry. She has spent the last 30 years climbing the ladder at BP, a leading engineering and energy company. Currently, she is the senior vice president of engineering, operating the engineering centre of expertise, located in the United Kingdom and the U.S., where she oversees over 2,500 engineers stationed across the globe.
“I am a frontline person by nature,” she said. “I've always enjoyed research and practical application of engineering theories and principles. I feel humbled to have received my degree at Texas A&M, and for all of the places my Aggie ring has taken me.”
Rios and her husband, Eduardo, have three boys, who have all attended university. She joyfully recalls the day she dropped her son Gabriel off to start his Aggie engineering journey as a proud member of the class of 2022.
“It was such a special, full-circle moment that I will never forget,” Rios said. “I remember so clearly my mom dropping me off, and I am happy to give my son what my family gave to me.”
In 2019, Rios received an Outstanding Alumni Honor Award from the Texas A&M College of Engineering. She serves on BP’s Supplier Diversity Council, is chair of BP's Women International Networks globally and is active with the Business Resource Groups to promote diversity and inclusion. She was recognized by the Financial Times as ranking fifth among its Top Ethnic Minority Executives in 2018, Hispanic Executive magazine for being a STEM advocate and the Association of Latino Professionals for America and Fortune magazine as the 10th most powerful Latina in 2017. She is also a chemical engineering advisory board member, where she actively promotes diversity efforts and provides industry insights. Rios and her family continue to put positive energy back into the world through scholarship endowments they hold at Texas A&M.
A decorated engineer and family-oriented businesswoman, Rios has never lost sight of her why.
“I'm a daughter, a mother, an engineer and a wife, all of which help me in fulfilling my purpose and my why,” said Rios. “As we sit in comfortable homes, we forget that the best way to make a difference is by providing people with the necessities of heat, light and mobility, so others have access to the prosperity energy enables, such as quality education to learn and grow. That is and always will be my why.”