Kaylee Herrig set out early on her engineering journey, encouraged by the confident women in STEM fields whom she admired. But it was an “aha” moment in seventh grade that solidified her path — a news story about a man receiving an artificial hand.
“I realized you could apply the fundamentals of engineering to solve the problem of a lost limb,” she says. “When I learned I could study this in college, I thought, this is the way I can help the world.”
For Boom it is important to spend time on being a positive role model for female employees. She mentors several female leaders at Winnebago Industries and is committed to the success of STEM programming for young students in high school.
For Allie (Harris) Millikan (B.S. ’19 industrial engineering, concurrent MBA ’19), the industrial engineering (IE) road led from Cyclone Nation to Magic Kingdom.
“I have such incredible memories from our family Disney trips growing up. I couldn’t imagine a more magical place to work,” she says.
Emily DeJesu graduated from Iowa State University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering (BSE). DeJesu grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and had a connection to Iowa State through her dad, with Iowa State being her dad’s alma mater. She always had a passion for the environment, math, and science which made BSE at ISU an easy educational choice.
Finding ways to improve and positively impact the lives of patients, healthcare professionals, and the day-to-day experience of her colleagues is fulfilling for Vanessa Calderon (B.S. ’09, industrial engineering).
Calderon became interested in working in healthcare through her IE senior design capstone experience at the UnityPoint Health – Des Moines where she was later employed and became a Process Improvement Engineer.
Sarah Sievertsen graduated from Iowa State University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Systems Technology (AST). Originally from northwest Alabama, Sievertsen had a passion for manure management and air quality in high school. She now works for GEA North America as a technical writer.
Willow Griffith graduated from Iowa State University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture systems technology (AST). Now at the Climate LLC as a product manager, she has combined her love for agriculture and innovation to find a career she is passionate about.
For Cassandra Swacker, engineering is a way to help people.
Majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in biomedical engineering at Iowa State University equipped Swacker with the skills to design and manufacture personalized utensils and devices for people with traumatic brain injuries.
“I want to help the next generation of female engineers reach their full potential.”
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) is excited to announce Joanne Kuntz as a Student Services Coordinator in the advising office
Kejin Wang, professor in construction engineering, says doing what you love is the key to success. Her unwavering passion for her field has earned her the title of distinguished professor, the first woman to ever receive this honor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.
Herrera’s first project out of college (civil engineering ‘16) was no small feat. Starting as a project engineer at The Weitz Company and now as a project manager, Herrera has been turning ideas into impacts for over seven years. And her favorite part? Seeing it all come together and work.
Nazik Çıtır, doctoral candidate in civil engineering working with the Institute for Transportation, has pretty much always been an engineer in the making. As a child, Çıtır always seemed to be problem-solving with one big goal in mind: helping the world be a better place for all.
Going into graduate school, Brittini Brown was ready for an adventure unlike any other adventure she had before. And a new adventure was exactly what she had as a grad student in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Madalyn Moline has always been one to trailblaze new paths and follow her dreams no matter what others might say. Now, she is a sophomore in agricultural engineering with a power and machinery focus. Moline has a drive to not only create more efficient and sustainable agricultural methods, but to inspire others that want to pursue engineering, as well.
