Outreach Leadership Team
The Women in Engineering (WiE) Program Outreach Leadership Team provides support for our K-10 outreach programs, which include, Access Engineering, Imagination, Innovation, Discovery, Design (I2D2), Innovation to Reality (I2R), Engineering FYI: For Your Imagination, Connecting Engineers Online (CEO), Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED), along with several other community events. The Outreach LT also serve as facilitators, logistical coordinators, engineering project testers, and role models with a passion for inspiring future engineers.
 Diya Banerjee | Junior | Mechanical Engineering
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
The outreach team has given me confidence and belonging within engineering at Purdue. Coming into such a competitive school was incredibly intimidating; however, a very supportive work environment has allowed me to realize that I deserve to be heard when I speak.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
I believe that supporting the next generation of engineers is vital to society's health. Engineers can create immense change in our world - and future generations possess so much creativity, compassion, and talent that should be nurtured to make a positive trajectory in this world.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Resilient. Thoughtful. Passionate.
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 Caroline Brown | Senior | Biological Engineering and Biochemistry
Minor: Bioinformatics
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
From participating on the WiE Outreach Team, I have gained a better sense of community. For the first few years of my experience at Purdue, I mainly kept to the campus itself, but by doing outreach, I have had the opportunity to be an active member of the Lafayette community and to impact youth. Additionally, I have become a part of a community of female engineering leaders who uplift and support each other.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
When I was younger, I did not know the opportunities there was to be an engineer. I find that being an engineer is a great career path to choose that uses my academic strengths while allowing me to use my imagination and creativity. Therefore, I think it's important to reach out to the future generation of engineers to show them the different types of engineers and what they do for the world, so they may find a path for their future that resonates with their goals.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Positive. Empathetic. Resourceful.
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 Samantha Galicki | Junior | Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
Through WiE outreach I have not only found a love for sharing engineering with students of all ages and strengths but also gained confidence in my own abilities to be a leader.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
Going through two years of engineering school already, I've learned so much that I wish I could have told myself two, five, or even ten years ago! Being able to help the next generation of engineers and give them the guidance I would have loved so many years ago will help inspire and empower future creators and innovators to follow their passions confidently.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Passionate. Diligent. Sincere.
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 Sofia Mendoza | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Dance
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
The outreach team has strengthened my communication spanning many age groups, organization, and leadership skills. I also gained a supportive community who wants to see me succeed in the engineering field.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
It's important to give back as we are opening children's curiosities to the possibilities of what engineering can provide them in their future. We are instilling confidence as role models for the next generation of future engineers, especially young women, to pursue this field.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Driven. Kind. Joyous.
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 Charlotte Moss | Junior | Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Electrical Engineering
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
The WiE outreach team has given me support to grow as a person as I help children learn engineering. I have learned time management, grown in my public speaking, and have become a better communicator overall as I interact with both my peers and the kids.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
The future generation of engineers are the next innovators and scientists that are going to continue to change the world, and sometimes that starts right now when we can introduce them to a field that maybe they hadn't considered before. I was introduced to engineering in middle school, and here I am now, going through college for mechanical engineering. I think it's so important to empower these kids, and being a part of the WiE team has given me the opportunity to do that.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Creative. Patient. Adaptable.
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 Claire Qiao | Master's Student | Mechanical Engineering
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
I have learned a lot of communication skills from this program. Working with kids, I learned to be patient and accept that not everything will work exactly the way you planned.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
I think giving back is important because many people don't know what they are capable of or their options, so this program allows them to explore different fields and shows them all the amazing thing they can do.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Leader. Driven. Daring.
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 Keya Rajashekar | Junior | Biomedical Engineering
Minor: Psychology
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
Being part of the WiE outreach team is a very rewarding experience that has furthered many skills I would never have learned solely from school. Interacting with kids K-12 has taught me how to break down complex concepts into something simpler. Additionally, working within a diverse team has improved my communication, leadership, and innovative skills. However, most importantly, I have learned the importance of fostering a passion and interest in young minds for engineering and STEAM fields.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
Giving back to the future generation of engineers is crucial because it helps spark an early interest in difficult and higher-level fields of study. This leads to a conveyor of passionate and innovative people entering the industry while dissolving gender and diversity disparities within engineering.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Passionate. Dedicated. Creative.
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 Nikki Rytczak | Senior | Multidisciplinary Engineering with Concentration in Visual Design Engineering
Minors: French, Art and Studio Design
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
Being on the WiE outreach team has helped me to enhance my leadership skills and cater my leadership style toward different groups of people, whether it be coworkers, high schoolers, or kindergartners! I feel much more confident in my ability to interact with children and in considering the ideas of others in a collaborative space. Plus, I have made close friends that I would not have met otherwise.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
Giving back to future engineers is crucial as it is an essential step to completing the cycle of authentic leadership. It is important to give back to the educational organizations and other aspects of life that got you where you are. I give back by educating children about engineering in hopes that we fuel their interests and create young engineers. It is also important to me because I was not exposed to engineering when I was younger, and my path to engineering is a non-traditional one. By talking to these kids about STEM, specifically engineering, I feel I can make a difference in their lives and give them an advantage in engineering that I did not have!
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Reliable. Driven. Bold.
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 Rose Sardina | Master's Student | Electrical and Computer Engineering
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
Being on the WiE outreach team has taught me many good leadership and communication skills. I have also made a lot of life-long friends.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
I believe that giving back to future generations of engineers is essential because it gives them the courage and motivation to follow their dreams of becoming an engineer.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Creative. Sassy. Passionate.
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 Lillian Slack | Sophomore | Environmental and Ecological Engineering
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
Participating in the WiE outreach team has given me experience in being a more versatile leader and enhanced my patience and ability to think on my feet.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
I believe it is important to give back to the future generations of engineers because it shows the students we work with all the opportunities they have, while also giving us college students the opportunity to learn about leadership alongside them.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Confident. Adaptable. Persistent.
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 Molly Tredway | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Minors: Spanish and Chemistry
What have you gained from participating in the WiE outreach team?
Working with children with the WiE outreach team taught me how to apply my engineering skills in various settings. I use my communication, teamwork, and design skills taught in core engineering classes in a non-classroom environment during activities. I have also developed those skills by teaching and leading the children in engineering activities.
Why do you believe it is important to give back to the future generation of engineers?
I think giving back to the future generation of engineers is important because our knowledge and experience can help the next generation do even bigger and greater things!
Describe yourself in 3 words.
Outgoing. Ambitious. Versatile.
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- Outreach K-10
- Access Engineering
- Imagination, Innovation, Discovery, and Design (Grades K-5)
- Innovation to Reality (Grades: 6-8)
- Engineering FYI: For Your Imagination (Grades Incoming: 7, 8, & 9)
- Connecting Engineers Online (Grades 7-8)
- Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day (Grades: 9 & 10)
- Outreach Leadership Team
