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Major

Architectural Engineering

Post-graduation plans

Pursue an MFA in lighting design at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

What experiences or qualities do you think led to you receiving the Academic Engagement Award?��

I think I received this award because I’ve tried to make the most of my time by staying curious and open to lots of new experiences. One small decision to help build a concrete canoe sparked everything—from getting more involved in class, to falling in love with design studio and reconnecting with dance and the arts. I've learned that when you try one thing, you connect with new people and find new interests that lead you to more exciting opportunities. Being open to trying new things has helped me find ways to blend creativity with engineering and learn from the amazing people around me.��It’s been such a meaningful journey; this award feels like a special recognition of all those little moments along the way!

What’s something interesting you'd like others to know about you?

Throughout college, I’ve worn different hats that shaped my experience. One of the most rewarding has been serving as a course assistant for the Architectural Design Studio for two years—supporting other students and seeing their creativity grow is something I genuinely love. That studio also connected me with one of the best faculty advisors, who has helped shape my journey.��

Outside of class, I’ve reconnected with dance, which was a big part of my life growing up. Taking contemporary and ballet classes and performing with ����������'s Dance Department has been a fun and refreshing outlet for me. I’ve also dabbled in art history, which has surprisingly influenced how I approach design and storytelling.��

And through the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Concrete Canoe team, I’ve found some of my closest engineering friends—an another incredibly rewarding part of my time here.

Tell us about a moment when you felt like you hit your stride or felt like you were “officially” an engineer.

I really felt like an engineer during a presentation with my senior capstone team at the end of our schematic design phase. We had worked so hard leading up to the presentation, with long nights as a team in the Bechtel Lab and endless "re-dos" when practicing together. I remember watching my teammates nail their sections and feeling so proud of us—especially when fielding questions from faculty and industry mentors at the end!

What was the biggest challenge for you during your engineering education? What did you learn from it?

Disregarding differential equations and linear algebra, the biggest challenge for me was finding my niche within architectural engineering. There are so many career paths and such a strong demand for our skill set. What helped me the most was trying a little bit of everything. You do find where you fit in!

What is your biggest piece of advice for incoming engineering students?

Say "yes" to working with new people, say "yes" to trying out a project, say "yes" to helping professors and say "yes" to trying out clubs! These experiences will shape your journey at ����������, help you figure out your career path and will provide some of your favorite memories of your time here.

Without those "yes" experiences, I may not have ever discovered my passion for illumination engineering and light!
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