Iowa State alumna Daniela Faas has had an enthralling journey that began with a move from Germany to the US as a teen, beginning what she calls her own version of the “American Dream.” That dream has included excellent education and research opportunities that have taken her places she never envisioned, and ultimately landed her a position at one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Far from home
As a high school student in the city of Ludwigshafen, Germany, Faas and her parents decided that a year of schooling in the US would be beneficial to her education in order to prepare her for the Abitur, Germany’s final exams that enable students to attend German universities. Faas’ acceptance to Worcester Academy in Massachusetts launched the beginning of her educational pursuit in the US.