What I Do I'm just starting a new job as a Solutions Design Engineer to help make systems that increase water efficiency of irrigation systems in arid agricultural regions.
Why Engineering? I have always been interested in water conservation, and it's only becoming more relevant. Agriculture uses the vast majority of our fresh surface water, so I want to help conserve it in any way that I can.
School Days University of Arkansas (undergrad--my home state school) and the Colorado School of Mines (master's).
Best Part So far, I really enjoy the variety of projects I've gotten to work on, including related to engineering policy around topics like engineering and human rights, and extreme heat adaptation.
Proud Moments I’m especially proud of the research I conducted during my master’s program, where I applied anthropological methods to engage with communities in rural Colombia. My work focused on assessing environmental risks to local coffee farming and artisanal gold mining, and involved conducting in-depth interviews—entirely in Spanish—over several weeks in the field. I met incredible people through this experience and found deep value in the face-to-face interactions. It taught me a powerful lesson: as engineers, we often think of ourselves as problem-solvers, but the first step is understanding what the problem actually is. And that understanding can only come from working closely with the people most directly impacted.
Challenges I’ve navigated a number of challenges throughout my journey in engineering. Choosing a major wasn’t easy, and both my undergraduate and graduate programs were relatively new and nontraditional, so I constantly had to explain and advocate for the value of my degrees during interviews. I also faced the complexities of living and working abroad—adjusting to a new culture and language while building professional experience. Early on, I made the decision to step away from the typical 9-to-5 consulting path, which came with its own uncertainties. Most recently, I’ve encountered the unique challenges of working in the policy space in D.C., especially as an engineer focused on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion—work that often involves navigating complex political dynamics.
My Family My family includes my mom, dad, and brother, with extended relatives spread out across the country. I also have a dog named Elote, and a close-knit group of friends who make up my chosen family—they’re just as important to me as the ones I was born into.
Dreams and Goals I’m currently transitioning from my role in engineering policy in D.C. to a more technical position at a private engineering firm where I'll be based out of Colorado. I'm excited to put my modeling and design skills from college into practice, while also drawing on the research and communication experience I've developed through my current job and graduate studies. I’m especially looking forward to contributing to international projects on water conservation in Latin America and having the opportunity to travel for work around the world. As a personal goal, I'd love to become fluent in a third language--maybe Portuguese next!
Inspiration My biggest inspirations have shaped not only my path into engineering, but also how I think about the field itself. My mom was a woman in STEM before it was common—starting her career in the 1970s and working for NASA in the 1980s. She always encouraged my love for math and science, and it stuck! At the University of Arkansas, my bioengineering advisor Scott Osborn was a patient and dedicated mentor who helped spark my interest in the field. I'm also grateful for my Spanish professors in college who encouraged me to study abroad, pursue a double major, graduate in five years, and not focus only on engineering. Later, in graduate school at the Colorado School of Mines, my advisors Juan Lucena and Jessica Smith introduced me to Science and Technology Studies (STS), a lens that helped me understand the social, cultural, and ethical dimensions of engineering—who we design for, and why. Their work changed how I see engineering and deepened my commitment to making it more inclusive and socially aware.
Want to be an Engineer? If you enjoy the puzzle-solving aspect of technical problems—whether it’s building or designing something with your hands, watching a machine or system come to life, writing code, or finally cracking a tough math problem—then a technical career might be a great fit for you. The good news is, you don’t have to love every class to succeed in STEM. For example, chemistry never really clicked for me, and that’s okay! One of the best parts about engineering and STEM fields is that you eventually get to specialize in areas you enjoy, and there's a lot of flexibility to shift between fields as your interests evolve. You might struggle with calculus now but never use it day-to-day in your engineering career. What matters is finding something that sparks your curiosity and keeps you engaged. For me, I've always cared about environmental sustainability. And here’s something else to think about: technical careers often come with job stability and solid pay, which gives you the freedom to enjoy your life outside of work—whether that’s traveling, making music, creating art, or spending time with people you love.
Hobbies Outside of work, I love painting landscapes, exploring museums, watching live music, and dancing—especially when traveling abroad in Latin America, where I get to practice my Spanish, dance salsa, and enjoy some of the best food. I also enjoy spending time with my dog, hiking, scuba diving, gardening, and making all kinds of crafts. Lately, I’ve been working on getting better at cooking, too!