Carmela Mellado was a remarkable pioneer in the Latino community. She was the founding editor-in-chief of Hispanic Engineer Magazine, the first national publication dedicated to profiling Latinos in the STEM fields.
Carmela paved the way for Latinx representation in STEM fields and beyond. Let us honor her achievements and unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Recently, Great Minds in STEM and the Mellado family announced the passing of Carmela C. Mellado, who co-founded the organization alongside her late husband, Ray.
Carmela was a co-founder of the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference in 1989, which later became Great Minds in STEM, and founded Technica Magazine in 1999.
Carmela was not only a trailblazer in STEM but also a champion of public education. She served on the state-sanctioned Schoolsite Council for a local East Los Angeles elementary school for many years.
Furthermore, she was a successful businesswoman, overseeing her family mortuary, which will celebrate its 100th year in consecutive operation in 2024.
Carmela passed away at her home in Pasadena, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in passing by Ray Mellado, her husband of 51 years, and is survived by her three adult children, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Great Minds in STEM (GMiS; formerly HENAAC) is a national nonprofit organization that Carmela and Ray Mellado co-founded in 1989.
The organization is dedicated to promoting science, technology, engineering, and math careers in underserved communities and strengthening America technologically.
GMiS realizes its mission through its annual HENAAC conference and educational programs like the Hall of Fame, Viva Technology, and STEM-Up.
The SHPE Familia joined the Hispanic and STEM communities on November 29, 2022, in honoring Great Minds in STEM founder Ray Mellado, who passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on the morning of November 25.
Ray and Carmela Mellado befriended SHPE founder Rod Garcia nearly fifty years ago, and the trio collaborated for many years to advance their shared values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.
SHPE and GMiS continue to work together on various fronts, and many SHPE members consider Ray Mellado a role model and inspiration.
Ray Mellado realized early in his career that Hispanic excellence was intrinsically linked to American competitiveness.
He worked to tell the stories of role models and heroes, graduate folks with STEM degrees, secure their jobs, and spark the imaginations of kids from underserved communities.
Ray’s legacy of thinking bigger and bolder is fitting because he was a Great Mind in STEM, just like the organization he founded.
SHPE past National President and Lifetime Member Diana Gomez said, “Ray Mellado loved his community and worked tirelessly to improve it. When I became SHPE National President, Ray was one of my biggest supporters, mentor, and a great friend. I will treasure our beautiful friendship, and his legacy will continue for every one of us he has helped.”
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