Mentees & Mentors

Tell me more about M&M

We all need advice from time to time. The Mentees & Mentors Program, or M&M as we like to call it, gets undergrad women engineers together as a big group once a month for fun, conversation, networking, and advice! M&M is designed for you to build a network with other women engineering students while learning timely personal and professional strategies to help you be successful in the classroom and on the job. Mentoring relationships are key for sharing and receiving helpful advice about engineering, college life, and successful preparation for the future. 

Individuals of all races, genders, and backgrounds are welcome.

Mission of the M&M Program
Mission of the M&M Program

Our mission is to retain women undergraduate students in engineering through a dynamic and nurturing mentoring program (Mentees & Mentors or M&M). We support, affirm, and strategically educate the program's participants and student leaders. We offer meetings and activities designed to sustain and strengthen mutual mentoring relationships as well as benefit the individuals. The objectives for the Mentees & Mentors Program are to: 

  • enhance personal support of students through contacts with women role models (including peers, alumni, and industry partners) and an interactive, mutually-beneficial peer mentoring program.
  • build confidence in students through affirmation of their skills and values.
  • share effective strategies that enable students to thrive in college, leading to successful completion of their engineering education and preparing them for future endeavors.

The services and resources we provide add a unique and vital dimension for women engineering students at Purdue.

Learn more about M&M

The M&M program is based on a network-mentoring model where all participants learn from one another. All participants attend our large M&M Monthly Meetings where we have dinner together, enjoy a guest speaker, engage in fun networking activities, and gain professional skills and strategies for success. These meetings are held once a month on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so you can pick the day that works best for your schedule. Meetings run from 6:00PM - 7:45PM.

One-to-one Paired Mentoring - Paired mentoring can enhance your experience and help guide you on a path for success. M&M participants can choose to participate in a 1:1 paired mentoring relationship. FYE participants are paired with an upperclass participant in their same major for personalized mentoring.

M&M Social Events - To help participants build their engineering community, monthly Social events are also held. Join us for bowling, board game night, movies, trivia, arts & crafts, and more fun events!

The program has been intentionally designed to offer the greatest opportunity for participant growth and success. Benefits include community building, networking, and mentoring, as well as personal and professional development.

To gain these benefits, participants must be actively engaged in the M&M program. Semester requirements include attending 2 Monthly Meetings, 1 M&M Social and 1 Access Alum event.

Please contact wiepmm@purdue.edu  with questions.
Sign up to become an M&M participant
The 2023-2024 M&M Program has reached capacity, and we are unable to accept any more participants at this time.
Meet the M&M Leadership Team
Suzanne Zurn-Birkhimer | Associate Director
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Suzanne Zurn-Birkhimer | Associate Director
Dr. Zurn-Birkhimer is the Associate Director of the Women in Engineering Program and oversees the mentoring programs. Here is her bio.

Why M&M is great
"The M&M program allows for students to develop their own tight-knit community with their engineering peers while gaining crucial professional and personal tools they cannot develop in the classroom. We are fortunate to be able to bring in amazing alumnae to engage with the students by sharing their wisdom and experience. The participants leave our meetings confident, inspired, and excited to succeed on their path to becoming engineers!"
Cathy Deno | Administrative Assistant
Cathy Deno
Cathy Deno | Administrative Assistant
Cathy is one of the Women in Engineering (WiE) Program's Administrative Assistants. She works with the mentoring program teams and the WE Link recruitment team. Here is her bio.  

Why M&M is great
"I've worked with the M&M program since its creation in 1992. I love how the program has grown and developed each and every year in order to continue to meet the needs of our women students. The WiE staff and student leaders work hard to develop valuable programming with engaging activities and speakers that will equip our women students while at Purdue and as they enter the workforce."
AnnaBella Brown | Sophomore | Ag & Bio Engineering
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AnnaBella Brown | Sophomore | Ag & Bio Engineering
AnnaBella Brown is from Fort Wayne, Indiana and is studying Biological Engineering with a minor in Biological Sciences. She has a passion for involvement and collaborating with others and pursues this through her work on the M&M LT as well as being a Team Leader for Boiler Gold Rush. On campus, she is also a member of Purdue Music Organization's ensemble Heart & Soul, in addition to being a part of the Women's Club Soccer Team. Outside of these activities, she loves going to Purdue sports games and spending time with friends.

Why M&M is great
"The M&M Program provides the opportunity for women in engineering to develop their network and expand their professional skills while creating meaningful relationships with their peers. The program has become a community for myself and other women to grow within our engineering careers as well as build lifelong skills and confidence."
Caroline Curtis | Junior | Mechanical Engineering
Caroline Curtis
Caroline Curtis | Junior | Mechanical Engineering
Caroline is from South Florida and came to Purdue to study Mechanical Engineering. Outside of M&M Caroline is involved in Purdue Space Program, Purdue FIRST Robotics, and the PHI Sigma Rho sorority. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, staying active, and catching up with friends.

Why M&M is great
"M&M is great because it allows people who feel lost in their journey in becoming an engineer to find people who can help gain the confidence and connections they need to feel successful. It also encourages a strong bond between young women in engineering, and truly exemplifies women supporting women."
Navya Datla | Sophomore | Computer Engineering
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Navya Datla | Sophomore | Computer Engineering
Navya is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is studying Computer Engineering. Outside of the M&M Program, she is involved with her EPICS team and the Purdue Space Program. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Why M&M is great
"I love the M&M program because it gives young women in engineering a wealth of resources that help them achieve success both in their time at Purdue and throughout their careers. The community, skills, and confidence I have gained through the M&M program have been a large part of my successful transition to Purdue, and I hope to provide this enriching experience to other women as a member of the leadership team."
Zora Emmert | Junior | Material Science Engineering
Zora Emmert
Zora Emmert | Junior | Material Science Engineering
Outside of M&M, Zora volunteers for WE Link, where she aims to increase the number of women who choose to study engineering. Zora is also involved in the GEARE program and plans to study abroad in Germany and earn a minor in both Global Engineering Studies and German. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, learning banjo, and scrapbooking.

Why M&M is great
"M&M is a great opportunity to meet women in engineering in a supportive, encouraging environment outside of the classroom. As a participant in M&M, I have enjoyed developing my professional skills, and I have loved learning from distinguished women in different engineering fields."
Samantha Farmer | Junior | Industrial Engineering
Sam Farmer
Samantha Farmer | Junior | Industrial Engineering
Sam is from Chicago, Illinois and is studying Industrial Engineering. She is in the Honors College and is a Team Leader for Boiler Gold Rush. In her free time, Sam enjoys playing basketball, cooking, and spending time at the beach.

Why M&M is great
"Participating in M&M as a first-year student reaffirmed my decision to pursue an engineering degree and increased my feeling of belongingness at Purdue. M&M is a great way to meet upperclassmen and alumni who are happy to answer questions and offer advice."
Lexi Gies | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Lexi Gies | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Outside of being on the leadership team for M&M, Lexi is involved with Alpha Omega ministries, EPICS, and PSEF, which is Purdue's student organization for informing prospective first-year engineers. This summer Lexi is a part of Purdue's SURF research program and is working on a study focused on assessing hospital staff efficacy. Some of her favorite hobbies include baking, kayaking, cooking, and playing soccer. 

Why M&M is great
"I enjoy being in M&M because it is a wonderful supportive group that encourages every member to do their best and connect with others that share similar interests. I also love that the students and alumni involved are eager to share their personal and professional experiences to guide those who are facing similar situations currently."
Natalie Harvey | Senior | Mechanical Engineering
Natalie Harvey | Senior | Mechanical Engineering
Natalie is from St. Louis, Missouri studying Mechanical Engineering. Aside from the M&M LT program, she is in the Honors College and is involved in Club Tennis. She was a manufacturing engineering intern at Dana Inc. the summer after her first year. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, spending time with friends, and playing video games.

Why M&M is great
"I feel that the M&M program is a fantastic way for women to connect with other female engineering students and create great friendships to last a lifetime. It provides first-year students the opportunity to learn from upperclassmen, making their transition in to college much smoother, and upperclassmen have the opportunity to share their experiences with the next group of female engineers."
Claire Kaptur | Sophomore | Chemical Engineering
Claire Kaptur | Sophomore | Chemical Engineering
Claire is from Harrison Twp, Michigan, and is studying Chemical Engineering with minors in General Management and Business Economics. Outside of being on the leadership team for M&M, she is involved with EPICS, Boiler Catholics, and Purdue Dance Marathon as a part of the Morale Team. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, hiking, hanging out with friends, and baking.

Why M&M is great
"During my first year, M&M helped me meet some of my best friends and solidified my decision to study engineering. I truly believe that the program gives women in engineering a community to learn and grow with, helping inspire and prepare them as they move through college and into their careers."
CJ Kulprathipanja | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
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CJ Kulprathipanja | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
CJ is from the suburbs of Chicago. Along with BME, CJ is pursuing a minor in Computer Science and a Certificate in Collaborative Leadership. CJ is currently on a co-op at Apple. In her free time, she enjoys baking, lifting weights, and teaching her cat new tricks.

Why M&M is great
"As a first-year student, I really enjoyed M&M because I was able to easily make friends with other girls in engineering that I did not see in my classes, and I also learned new strategies to help me reach my personal and professional goals."
Kaniese Mack | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Kaniese Mack | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Kaniese is on the Mentees & Mentors Leadership Team. Outside of WiE, she has been involved in Engineering Projects in Community Service to design interactive tactile walls for a local child development center. She is planning to pursue a minor in Global Engineering through the GEARE program and study abroad in the future. In her free time, Kaniese enjoys watercolor painting, learning new things, and improving at rollerblading. 

Why M&M is great
"I admire the M&M Program for encouraging young female engineers to grow their network, gain confidence in themselves, and expand their skills. I am eager to continue growing as a leader and form new connections with others in this program."
Zoe Mercer | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering
Zoe Mercer | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering
Zoe Mercer is a sophomore pursuing Mechanical Engineering from Dayton, OH. Outside of M&M, Zoe is involved with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and has participated on their small projects team. She has also participated on the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Grand Prix team. This summer, she will be continuing an internship at Hi-Tek Manufacturing, where she will machine precision components for aviation and gas turbine engines. In her free time, Zoe enjoys reading, watching movies, and playing volleyball. 

Why M&M is great
"I believe M&M offers an excellent support system for all women pursuing engineering. Engineering can be daunting, especially as a woman, but by building connections and sharing experiences with other women engineers, M&M helps build up the confidence of its many members. As a first-year student, M&M truly helped me maintain my resilience through failure and learn that it is okay to struggle. M&M has helped me become the successful engineering student I am today and will continue to improve my professional and academic skills as I continue at Purdue."
Rebecca Mold | Senior | Ag & Bio Engineering
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Rebecca Mold | Senior | Ag & Bio Engineering
Rebecca is on the Leadership Team for the M&M program. She is from Twinsburg, Ohio, and in addition to her honors engineering major, she is pursuing a minor in Music History and Theory. Outside of M&M, she is involved with her sorority Phi Sigma Rho, the Purdue Symphony Orchestra, and Stempower, an organization dedicated to introducing girls to STEM. She has been a member of the Goss Scholars Leadership Council, and she will also be a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader for Fall 2021. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys running, baking, and listening to music. 

Why M&M is great
"The M&M program allows participants to form important relationships with their fellow female engineers, allowing both mentors and mentees to learn from each other. These connections along with resources and programming provided by the Women in Engineering Program, help set up engineering students for success."
Shreya Sinha | Junior | Biomedical Engineering
shreya sinha
Shreya Sinha | Junior | Biomedical Engineering 
Shreya is a Biomedical Engineering major on the pre-med track. She has been involved in the Women in Engineering Program in the past through the learning community and small group mentoring. In her free time, Shreya enjoys reading, spending time with friends, listening to music and playing the violin.

Why M&M is great
"The Mentees and Mentors program is a great way for female engineers to connect with others in the same field and to learn from those with more experience, while developing their professional skills and growing in the engineering field."
Grace Sizer | Sophomore | Civil Engineering
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Grace Sizer | Sophomore | Civil Engineering 
Grace is from a small town in Connecticut and is studying Civil Engineering with a minor in Spanish. On campus, she is involved in an acapella group, the Acabellas, and is a volunteer for WE Link. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and weightlifting.

Why M&M is great
"M&M is an amazing community of intelligent and like-minded women engineers at Purdue. This program really helps women in engineering connect with one another to support each other and further their individual passions for engineering. Our meetings help me gain important skills and perspectives, both personally and professionally, and I can't wait to help upcoming women engineers at Purdue experience the same."
Lavanya Swaminathan | Junior | Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
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Lavanya Swaminathan | Junior | Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering 
Lavanya is an international student from Singapore. Besides AAE, she is also planning to minor in Materials Engineering. Outside of the M&M program, Lavanya is involved in WE Link and in her free time, she loves playing tennis, reading and watching Netflix.

Why M&M is great
"The M&M Program has helped me meet a lot of inspiring female engineers and has made me a more confident and outgoing person. It has been a valuable contribution to my engineering education and has opened me up to new learning opportunities that I might have never discovered alone."
Elyse Zurawski | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Elyse Zurawski | Senior | Biomedical Engineering
Elyse is on the leadership team for the WiE Mentees & Mentors Program. Along with M&M, Elyse is involved with Purdue FIRST Programs where she mentors FIRST Robotics students in the Lafayette and West Lafayette communities and organizes events involving teams throughout the country. In her free time, she enjoys visiting Purdue's CoRec, baking, and playing golf.

Why M&M is great
"M&M is an amazing opportunity because it provides easy access to a supportive community of women with similar interests. As a first-year student in the program, the interactions with my peers and mentors in our monthly meetings build confidence in my choice to be a Purdue Engineer, and as a member of the leadership team I am excited to help others feel the same!"

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