Why did you choose to study at WPI? 

“Few colleges offer environmental engineering as a degree, and I was pretty sure I wanted to pursue something in science and engineering. I also had been to the campus multiple times before and enjoyed it. The project-based learning was another aspect I thought would be valuable to my education.”

How are you involved with the WPI community? 

“I'm involved with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Green Team, and American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES) clubs on campus. I also work at WPI as a sustainability intern with the Office of Sustainability and as a research associate on climate resilience enterprise opportunities in relation to New Zealand with The Business School. At the end of my sophomore year, I applied to be a sustainability intern because I am passionate about being sustainable and wanted to play a role in promoting that on campus. Since then, I've written WPI's 2020-2021 Sustainability Report, maintained the “Gompei's Gears” bike share bikes, researched the connection between diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and sustainability, and revived the Sustainability Ambassadors program. Lately, my work has focused on the Sustainability Ambassadors. I've taken a lead role in the program; planning and managing meetings, while keeping the ambassadors on-track for completing a project on campus.”

What’s your favorite thing about WPI? 

“Some of my favorite things are the project-based curriculum, seven-week terms, and the variety of opportunities to get involved on-campus. All of the clubs and jobs offered at WPI allowed me to explore my interests and develop skills I couldn't get from classes alone.”

Do you have a faculty or staff mentor? 

“Professor Paul Mathisen provided me my first full-time job. From the day I met him, he presented himself as a respectful and knowledgeable individual who shared my passion for sustainability. Despite the challenges on maintaining the bike share system and promoting sustainability and sustainability-related clubs on campus during the pandemic, Professor Mathisen maintained a confident and positive outlook. His commitment to improving sustainability on campus is admirable, making him the staff member that has had the greatest influence on me at WPI.’

‘Professor Michael Elmes of The Business School is one of the most respectful and accepting staff members on campus. As an advisor for the Wellington, New Zealand Project Center, he is knowledgeable in New Zealand culture and driven to develop climate resilience in business.’

‘Professor Elisabeth Stoddard was my interactive qualifying project (IQP) advisor for the Farm Stay Project Center in Paxton, MA. She's determined to help students reach their full potential and has provided me with numerous opportunities to establish myself as an upcoming environmental engineer.”

How has WPI’s project-based learning influenced your education?  

“Taking the Great Problems Seminar (GPS) ‘Extinctions: Who will survive?’ my freshman year reinforced my choice of major by giving me an idea of what project work would be like in the future. It also got me thinking about my interests and what topic areas I'd like to pursue within my major. From this course, I verified my interests in sustainability and climate change, which ultimately led me to pursue my current jobs. My IQP broadened my interest in water as a valuable and limited resource from my hands-on experience rerouting stormwater and mitigating erosion at Turn Back Time Farm in Paxton, MA."