Hi! I'm Kate! I’m a chemical engineering student who has really come to love the community I’ve found on campus. You’ll usually find me studying with friends in the Engineering Library, grabbing food between classes, or getting involved in something around campus. Some of my favorite college memories have come from the people I’ve met here, whether we’re studying together, playing Mario Kart, or going on a late night In-N-Out run. I’m always happy to meet new people and share the places and experiences that have made campus feel like home.

Hometown

Yucaipa, California

Major(s)

Chemical Engineering

Minor(s)

Data Science Engineering

Clubs, organizations & involvement

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Women in Physical Science (W+PS) On-Campus Housing Council (OCHC) i-KNIT-iative Peaks and Professors Cycling Club

Describe your college experience

My college experience has been incredibly rewarding. I've had the opportunity to challenge myself with engineering courses, get involved in undergraduate research, take on leadership and mentoring roles, and meet some amazing people along the way. Every experience has helped me grow, and I've made memories and friendships that will last long after graduation. Overall, college has given me both the skills and confidence to pursue my career goals.

Tip for future students

My biggest advice is to get involved and try new things. Join clubs, especially ones related to your major, because it's a great way to meet people you'll likely have classes with throughout college. Try things outside of academics too, like intramural sports and campus or community events. I would also recommend going to office hours, even if you don't have a specific question. Sometimes just listening to other students' questions can help you understand the material better and get to know your professors.

Favorite class

Bioseparations was my favorite class because I genuinely enjoyed the material and had an outstanding professor who made complex concepts engaging and easy to understand. It was also a small class, which made it easy to ask questions and get to know both the professor and my classmates. One of the highlights was an outside project on biofouling in desalination plants, which gave me the chance to apply what we were learning to a real-world problem and made the material even more interesting. On a personal level, it's also where I met my closest friends, making it one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career.

Career goals

After college, I hope to attend graduate school for chemical engineering, with a focus on protein engineering. I've really enjoyed the bioengineering side of my coursework and would love to continue developing my research skills and learning more about protein engineering. Eventually, I hope to use that experience in the biotechnology or bioengineering industry.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal free night is pretty simple, just spending time with my friends at someone's apartment or dorm. We usually eat dinner together, play Uno or Mario Kart, or even study together if we have work to get done. Some nights we'll decide to go on a random late night adventure, like getting In-N-Out or finding something fun to do around town. I really enjoy those nights because we don't need anything special planned. It's just a chance to relax, laugh, and spend time together.

High school or secondary school

Yucaipa High School and Sky Mountain Charter School

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is the Engineering Library in Boelter Hall. I love studying there because of the big windows, the comfortable seats, and all the natural light—it just makes it a really nice place to get work done. I also like the sense of community there since it's always full of other engineering students studying, working on projects, or helping each other out. It's close to most of my classes, so it's easy to stop in between lectures, and there are plenty of outlets so I never have to worry about my laptop dying. Over the past few years, it's become my favorite place to study, meet up with friends, and spend time between classes.