She’s a Material Girl: Materials Engineering, That Is

  

Kristen Kesse is following in her father's engineering footsteps. (Photo by Lisa Ventre)

“It’s a great organization,” she says. “When I was young, I only knew about engineering through my dad, who was an engineer, but I didn’t know about the options that are open to women in engineering.” Kristen’s father, Harry, received his associate’s degree in electrical engineering from UC. (Her brother, Keith, is also a UC alum, with a degree in communication.)

“My mom, Sue, didn’t go to college, so she knows what it’s like for a woman to struggle without a college degree,”” Kristen says, “She was very supportive of my studying engineering.”

Through SWE she got to know the few other women in UC’s College of Engineering.

“I found girlfriends to hang out with and study with,” says Kristen, a graduate of Mother of Mercy High School. Kristen is receiving a bachelor’s degree in materials engineering at the All-University Commencement on June 9.

Young girls test their toaster skills with SWE.

One of SWE’s cool activities is the annual “Take Apart a Toaster” day held each December to encourage young girls’ interest in engineering. Even after her graduation, Kristen plans to continue her relationship with SWE, acting as a counselor and liaison to engage college women in the work world.

 

She proudly points out her alma mater’s commitment to teach students about engineering and science fields. 

Mother of Mercy High School is building excitement for the technical fields.

“They are currently in the process of adding a new technology center to their existing building,” Kristen explains. “I've worked to build a connection between UC and Mercy in order to help them create a brand new engineering program. I also organized a group of engineering alumnae to attend their career day this year.”

 

Besides her dedication to engaging girls in engineering, Kristen also co-founded the College of Engineering’s new student-run newsletter, Momentum.

“She’s a gem,” says Roy Eckart, professor of engineering and former interim dean of the College of Engineering.

 

Kristen is stepping right into a job with Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing of North America, in Erlanger, after co-oping with them for all six of her co-op terms. She loved her UC co-op experience.

“It was the primary reason I chose UC,” she says. “I looked at other engineering schools, like OSU and Purdue, but none of them had the structured co-op program, where it’s part of your schedule.” Kristen liked graduating with 1½ years’ experience under her belt.

“That way I could say, ‘Here’s what I bring to your organization,’” she says. “It’s also a great way to network.”

Kristen applauds Dean Carlo Montemagno’s focus on getting alumni engaged with current students.

“He’s an easy person to talk to,” she says. “You can tell he’s really listening.”

She points out his formation of the engineering education department and the new Engineering Alumni Learning Center as good steps in recruiting and retaining engineering students.

“It’s hard to feel like you’re an engineer in your first couple of years,” says Kristen. “The center will enable development of a cohesive unit of people to study with, socialize with, learn with.”

UC hosted the SWE Region G conference in 2006, drawing a record number of 233 women engineering professionals and students Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

She recommends that students get involved in student organizations right away, and stresses the importance of networking in school and in life.

“Anything you can — through the groups and activities you gravitate toward, you learn who you are, what your strengths and weaknesses are,” she notes. “It’s very important.”

Kristen appreciates the many opportunities that UC provided her for networking, especially in leadership roles.

“You can be a leader in student organizations, in the classroom and in your co-op, by taking control of your very own project,” she says.

 

 

Kristen is thrilled that she came to UC, the birthplace of cooperative education. (Photo by Lisa Ventre)

Kristen admits that she wasn’t a very good test taker and was worried about her college entrance exams. She encourages students who want to be engineers to hang in there.

“Don’t let that get you down — if you want to get into engineering, don’t give up,” she says. “Apply to UC!”

 

 

 

 

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