Nate Pinto: Outstanding senior in industrial engineering

Clubs and activities

My most impactful roles were serving as the president of Alpha Pi Mu (the industrial engineering honors society), a lead Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering ambassador supporting STEM outreach and Iowa State recruitment, and a connection group leader within the Salt Company. 

Valuable hands-on learning in class

My most valuable in-class experience was a junior statistical quality assurance course, where I got to work with an amazing team and partner with Collins Aerospace. We used statistical tools to make recommendations that saved them $110,000 annually, and overall, it was a great experience that helped prepare me for industry. 

Valuable out-of-the-classroom experience

Launching the STRIKE FORCE service initiative through the industrial engineering honors society was my most valuable out-of-the-classroom experience. What began with a local elementary school asking for help improving the safety and efficiency of its pickup process grew to support five West Des Moines schools and expand into healthcare. I led three of these projects, improving safety, reducing congestion, and creating more efficient pickup processes. 

Most influential mentor

Dr. Frank Peters (C.G. “Turk” and Joyce A. Therkildsen Professor in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering) was my most influential mentor throughout my time at Iowa State. He consistently encouraged me and opened doors to opportunities that shaped my experience, including guiding my first research project, encouraging me to study abroad in Ireland, and connecting me to my first STRIKE FORCE service project. 

Best memory/greatest accomplishment

My greatest accomplishment at Iowa State has been founding the Kata Advancement Network, a student group that supports people in achieving their personal goals. I wanted to create a dedicated time each week for personal growth outside of academics, so I built a structured approach using an engineering problem-solving method I learned during an internship. Over the past two years, I’ve seen members get into things like marathon running, music, photography, 3D printing, and accomplish countless other goals.

Plans after graduation

I’ll be working as an engineering project manager at Garmin while completing my master’s degree in engineering management at Iowa State. 

A memorable moment of kindness

I came to Iowa State barely knowing anyone, and through my freshman-year honors floor, I met my random roommate, who turned out to be one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Within a few days, he was already inviting me into his life, whether that was bringing me to his lake house, introducing me to clubs, or helping me through some of my tougher classes. He taught me guitar and even got me into things like 3D printing, but more than anything, he made me feel like I belonged. That kind of intentional, everyday kindness stuck with me, and it’s shaped how I try to include and support others. 

Persevering through challenging times

During my first semester, I struggled in MATH 2650 (Calculus III) and remember thinking, “I don’t know if I can do this whole engineering thing.” This experience taught me that Iowa State has great resources, I just needed to seek them out. I started going to office hours and supplemental instruction sessions, and the personalized help made a huge difference. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to go straight to professors when I’m stuck, and it’s been a key to my success in college. 

Support from Engineering Career Services

Iowa State has some of the largest career fairs in the country, and deciding to take advantage of them since freshman year was one of the best decisions I made. They made it easy to connect with employers, and I was able to secure internships with Kiewit, Pella Windows, and Garmin. Without these career fairs, I think finding opportunities like these would have been a lot more difficult. 

Iowa State’s entrepreneurship resources

I joined the entrepreneurial product development club my freshman year, which exposed me to the process of bringing an idea to life. During my time there, I learned the importance of understanding the customer and ensuring that what I create actually meets a need. That mindset helped me become a national finalist in an entrepreneurship competition during my study abroad in Ireland. 

Your major in your own words

Industrial engineering is “improving processes to help people.” We do this by making things better, faster, cheaper, and safer. The beauty of industrial engineering is that because processes exist everywhere, we get to work in any industry we’re passionate about! 

Making my mark on the world

The impact I hope to leave on the world as an engineer is rooted in people. No matter the field, people will always be part of the work. I want to show that combining engineering with genuine connection can lead to stronger outcomes and make the world a better place. 

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer

Engineering like a Cyclone Engineer means having a strong passion to learn and use that knowledge to make the world a better place. Iowa State makes that easy with how many opportunities there are to learn, get involved, and try new things. Cyclone Engineers are curious, driven, and always looking for ways to grow. 

What I’d tell my younger self about Iowa State

When I was choosing a college, I felt a lot of decision paralysis. Looking back, I would tell myself that Iowa State not only offers incredible opportunities, but also has people who are passionate about helping you take advantage of them. Without that support, I wouldn’t have joined honors, done research, studied abroad, or gotten involved in so many organizations. I’m proud of the engineer I’ve become because of the people and opportunities at Iowa State. 

Most inspiring location on campus

The new Therkildsen Industrial Engineering Building inspires me the most. Besides being the newest building on campus, it’s heavily student-focused, from the Industry 4.0 lab to the breakout spaces that mimic real industry environments. It feels cutting-edge, but what stands out most is the fact that it was largely funded by an industrial engineer and built under the leadership of an industrial engineer. It’s been inspiring to learn in a space that was made possible by Iowa State engineers before me.