“I have always been motivated to solve new problems and to find more efficient ways to solve old problems. I hope that my career will help push the boundaries of what people can accomplish and what problems can be solved.”
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
What would you consider your greatest accomplishments at ISU?
Throughout my time at Iowa State, I have had opportunities to make connections with many different people. From making friends in Marching Band, to meeting new people in Pay It Forward, to making friends in my classes. In each one of these, I have really valued the friendships that I have developed. Going into college, I didn’t know how much these people that I would meet would end up impacting me so much. At the same time, I feel like I have also been able to make a positive impact on them in the same way.
Which of your hands-on learning opportunities was most valuable?
For the last two summers, I have had internships working for Northrop Grumman – an aerospace and defense company. During my time there, I have been able to apply what I have learned at Iowa State, including some of my favorite things like coding, mathematical modeling, and computational fluid dynamics! Also, during my junior year, I received an undergraduate research fellowship from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium. As part of this, I had the opportunity to perform research and present it at an academic conference.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I will be starting a rotational program with Northrop Grumman in February. I will have the chance to gain exposure to different engineering positions before focusing on a single area. I also would like to return to graduate school to pursue either a master’s degree or PhD.
What’s the mark you’re looking to leave on the world as an engineer?
I have always been motivated to solve new problems and to find more efficient ways to solve old problems. This ties right in with my intense interest in mathematics as well. I hope that my career will help push the boundaries of what people can accomplish and what problems can be solved.
As you think back on your time at Iowa State, what does it mean to engineer like a Cyclone Engineer?
From an engineering perspective, Iowa State provides you with awesome hands-on experience! From the Lighter-Than-Air project that I got to be a part of during my freshman year to building a drone for senior design. Not only that, but you can engage intellectually through advanced course-work or research. Most importantly, you still can participate in a diverse set of activities. These other activities that I have done at ISU – Marching Band, Pay it Forward, tutoring for the Academic Success Center – have all helped me thrive and have prepared me to succeed as an engineer and beyond.