What I Do I teach engineering courses and plan & run programs for K-20 students in STEM and engineering.
Why Engineering? I enjoyed my math and science classes growing up in a public school system in Connecticut and my dad encouraged me to study engineering in college.
School Days Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute BS mechanical engineering; The University of Iowa MS biomedical engineering; Northeastern University EdD engineering education.
My Day At Work My current day at work involves teaching engineering courses with undergraduate students, including CAD, computer programming, makerspaces, prototyping, product development, engineering design, renewable energy and mechanical engineering design.
Best Part Engineering is so much fun! I've learned so much as an engineer who worked in industry (medical devices & athletic footwear) before I transitioned my career to a professor of engineering. I keep learning every day and I love teaching young people about the wonderful world of engineering and how they can pursue successful careers as an engineer too!
Proud Moments I'm most proud of completing my doctorate in education as an adult, taking courses part-time while I was teaching engineering full-time. My dissertation research project was the most engaging, challenging and satisfying project I've ever completed and I'm a better engineer, parent, professor, partner and researcher because of it!
Challenges I graduated from high school in the late 1980s and from my undergraduate engineering institution in the early 1990s. Back then, women in engineering were less than 10% of all undergraduates. Although my family supported me and even gave me the idea about engineering in the first place, I faced discrimination and microagressions as a female in engineering school and working in industry. But I persevered and committed myself to help the next generations of young women and students and kept learning.
My Family My immediate family is my husband and my two teenage children plus a labradoodle dog named "Mango". I have 1 sister, father and mother (deceased), plus handfuls of first cousins, aunts and uncles mostly in New England, Florida and Georgia.
Inspiration My father was my first influence, who encouraged me to consider engineering in college when I didn't even know what engineering was. I'm so glad he saw my potential and skills that have made my engineering career so rewarding and meaningful in my network and in my community.
Want to be an Engineer? You belong in engineering, no matter what school you're attending, where you live, what your family income is, or how young or old you are. Engineering is such a great foundation for anyone and any career endeavor, including business, law, medicine, entrepreneurship, art, music and of course, engineering as the ultimate creative career!
Hobbies I enjoy playing soccer, hiking, kayaking, playing golf, running and being outdoors with my friends, family and of course, my dog Mango.