I see myself as a community builder, someone who gives their full energy to spaces and people that matter deeply to me. Whether through service, mentorship, or engineering, I care about creating environments where people feel supported, included, and empowered to grow.

Service has always been central to who I am. I’ve spent years volunteering with communities that matter to me, welcoming home World War II and Korean War veterans from their Honor Flights, spending countless hours at animal welfare organizations caring for cats (and happily reinforcing my love of being around animals), and spending weekends and holiday breaks supporting children with disabilities—helping them play, explore, and have fun through meaningful shared experiences. This commitment to service ultimately led me to Purdue’s Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program, where I now combine my passion for engineering with community impact by designing assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.

In addition to service, mentoring and teaching younger students have been one of the most meaningful parts of my outreach work. Through rebuilding my school’s robotics program, founding an after-school robotics class, and leading a Women in STEM club, I’ve worked to make STEM engaging, creative, and accessible, especially for young girls. Having often been one of the only girls in technical classrooms myself, I’m deeply motivated to help students see STEM as something they can shape, personalize, and belong in. My goal is not just to teach science or engineering, but to help students make it their own and something they look forward to.