Engineering Ambassador Bios

Get to know our Ambassadors, and learn why they chose to become a #BuckeyeEngineer. 

 
Maariyah A.
Maariyah A.

3rd year Biomedical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Integrated Business and Engineering Honors Program; mentor, Biomedical Engineering Society; AWARES program graduate; Neurodiversity Club, which ties into the volunteer work I did at home to destigmatize developmental disabilities 

Co-ops/Internships: Ethicon Endo-Surgery (co-op); Johnson & Johnson 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Come in with an open mind and to remember to value themselves.

Why Buckeye Engineering: Ohio State Engineering really values students finding their own path. The first-year engineering curriculum allowed me to dip my feet into multiple majors that I could pursue, before applying for my major in the spring. This process allowed me to be much more confident and comfortable in my decision to apply for my major. 


 
Seun A.
Seun A.

3rd year Chemical Engineering

Campus Involvements: NSBE   

Co-ops & Internships: R&D P&G  

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Stay committed and focused even when times get tough.

Why Buckeye Engineering: The immense number of recourses that are being given to me because I am a Buckeye Engineer. Also, the school spirit and the smaller classes when in the major makes a big campus feel smaller.  


Rakhi B.
 
Rakhi B.

2nd year Engineering Physics

Campus Involvements: Society of Women Engineers, Cake Wars Chair and General Member; College of Engineering Ambassadors; Project HEAL at Ohio State, General Member 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: While it is for sure nerve wracking, don’t be scared to get involved in various organizations! Without getting to know what many different organizations do, you will never be able to find ones that fit your vibe and what you are looking for. Also, sometimes you do not know what you truly want from an organization in college yet, so put yourself out there! No one will judge you for it, and upperclassmen notice the effort and  appreciate it! 

Why Buckeye Engineering: I chose engineering at Ohio State because of the versatility of the Fundamental of Engineering Honors program, the various majors offered here, and the passion I saw from the faculty. After visiting the College of Engineering and touring the classes with Professor Rick Freuler, not only did I see the vast opportunities I would have at Ohio State, but also how passionate Dr. Rick was about what he taught. This is what sealed the deal for me and made me realize that Buckeye Engineering would help me develop that same passion for my love of science. 


 
Tommy B.
Tommy B.

3rd year Chemical Engineering

Campus Involvements: American Institute of Chemical Engineers; Vice President of Operations of Men’s Glee Club; BuckeyeThon Team Captain; Longboarding Club; Engineering Scholars Leadership team 

Co-ops & Internships: Hot Fuel Thermal Management Researcher at Wright Patterson Air Force Base

Advice to Future Buckeyes: If you see an opportunity, take it. You never know where that will lead to. 

Why Buckeye Engineering: Ohio State has an outstanding engineering program with many resources that help lead to obtaining an internship or co-op. 


 
Katie C.
Katie C.

3rd year Electrical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Women’s Varsity Rowing Team; Women in Engineering Learning Community (WiE); WiE Peer Mentor; Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Outreach Chair; Theme Park Engineering Group (TPEG); PREFACE and Engineering Office of Diversity, Outreach and Inclusion programs (DOI); IEEE webmaster; Newman Center; Running Club 

Co-ops & Internships: Internship at Cummins Inc. in Columbus, Indiana

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Do not be afraid to try new things and to follow your own path! Become involved in at least one activity that you have always wanted to try and one activity that you are already passionate about. College is a great time to try new things and invest in YOUR self-growth!  

Why Buckeye Engineering: There are so many opportunities to grow for every engineering major through clubs, research, course variety and networking events. The amount of passion on this campus is also a great motivation to become the best you can be in and out of the classroom. It is a great engineering school with so many supportive programs, teachers, teammates and peers. I am always proud to be a Buckeye!


 

Addison D.
Addison D.

2nd year Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Campus Involvements: SWE (Society of Women in Engineering), PSA (Filipino Student Association), Engineering Ambassadors, Cru at Ohio State, Humanitarian Engineering Scholars

Advice to Future Buckeyes: School always comes first, but there are so many fun and amazing opportunities here at Ohio State, so get involved and make tons of friends.

Why Buckeye Engineering: Ohio State engineering had exactly what I wanted in an engineering program. I knew that it was a place that I could thrive and they would prepare me well for any internship, co-op, and job that I wanted in the future.


 
Kelly F.
Kelly F.

3rd year Electrical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Engineering Ambassadors; Engineers’ Council Mental Health Committee; Resident Advisor; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Orthodox Christian Fellowship 

Co-ops & Internships: Two internship rotations with The J.M. Smucker Company 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: College can be overwhelming, but never forget to set time aside for YOU. Do something that makes you happy like putting on a face mask, going for a mindful walk, or watching your favorite show! 

Why Buckeye Engineering: I knew Ohio State has a strong women and minority in engineering program where my voice could be heard. In addition, Ohio State has endless professional networking opportunities which helped me secure my internships. 


 
ACE coach Gilbert Hernandez (headshot)
Gilbert H.

2nd year Chemical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Morrill Scholars Program - Excellence Recipient 

Co-ops/Internships: Procter and Gamble - R&D Engineer Intern 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Leave any sort of overconfidence at the door. My first semester was definitely my hardest – not because of the content but just because I thought I was already a good student and didn't need to try as hard. Every major has it's difficulties you just have to be ready to put in the work and the sooner you internalize that, the better you'll be off! 

Why Buckeye Engineering: I chose Ohio State Engineering because I was really impressed with the Minority Engineering Program (MEP) and how passionate they are in fostering a collaborative and diverse community on campus. The advisors there really do care about the success of their students and knowing that I have people advocating for me at any stage of my college career continues to give me the confidence that I made the right choice in coming to Ohio State. 


 
Katelyn H.
Katelyn H.

3rd year Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering

Campus Involvements: Society of Women Engineers; Engineering Ambassadors; intramural sports, Women in Engineering Learning Community

Co-ops/Internships: Crop Agronomy and Physiology Research Intern with CFAES on campus

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Get involved in students organizations, especially a learning community during your first year.

Why Buckeye Engineering: Many different disciplines to choose from, so I knew I would find the right fit and campus felt like home.


 

Matthew I.

Matthew I.

4th year Biomedical Engineering

Campus Involvements: VP of Membership Development, Integrated Business and Engineering Program; Logistics Manager, Running Club; Member, Biomedical Engineering Society 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: For applications, focus on what makes you unique, and make sure you communicate that message to the reader effectively. Even if you think that there are other people just like you, then emphasize the smaller details even more and how they impacted you specifically. Being able to tell a complete story is a huge part of any essay that every reader looks for. 

Why Buckeye Engineering: I decided on Ohio State Engineering mainly for the focus on out-of-class experiences. It was very tough to find another university that emphasized getting involved out of class more than Ohio State. The number of research labs is simply unmatched. It seems that there is research for anything I could see myself working on later in life. Pair these opportunities with the Integrated Business and Engineering program that is only present in Ivy Leagues and Ohio State, and that is why I decided to be a part of Ohio State Engineering. 


 
Heidi M.
Heidi M. 

3rd year Civil Engineering

Campus Involvements: Women in Engineering; College of Engineering Ambassadors; ASCE; Hometown Ambassador Program; Women in Engineering Learning Community; CEGE Peer Mentor Program

Co-ops & Internships: Civil Engineering Internship, Kimley-Horn, Ohio (Summer 2021)

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Keep an open mind. College can be a bit unpredictable so don’t feel like you are pigeonholed, there are endless opportunities to learn and explore different things unrelated, but still valuable to your discipline. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions or for help. Reaching out to others, whether it be related to academics, your career or other things, is a great resource and will help you tremendously!

Why Buckeye Engineering: I chose Buckeye Engineering because of the many opportunities it offered me to explore what I want to do with my career. Ohio State offers you endless opportunities within academics, professional/career, and social, which makes it easier for you to find your place on campus and in this crazy world!


 
Elizabeth Ostadali
Elizabeth O.

3rd year Chemical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Internal Vice President for American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE); a Fundamentals of Engineering Honors (FEH) Undergraduate Teaching Assistant; general member of Campus Outreach. Within AIChE I am also on the mentorship, social, and wellness committees, and I am co-leading a pilot K12 STEM Ambassador program through AIChE national. 

Co-ops & Internships: General Motors in Pontiac, MI working with Fuel Cell Manufacturing.

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Get involved early! Just because you are technically a “freshman” doesn’t mean you can’t make an impact on any team or community you choose to be a part of. You got into Ohio State for a reason, everyone here has the confidence that you can achieve great things, so there’s no better time to start making a difference than right when you step on campus. 

Why Buckeye Engineering: Coming to a school with such a good reputation, especially for engineering, as Ohio State, I knew that I would be surrounding myself with other students that had the same goals as me. This in turn would propel me to have great internship opportunities, which in the end will lead to a great job.


 
Ayanda S.
Ayanda S.

2nd year Industrial & Systems Engineering

Campus Involvements: Cru at Ohio State, Society of Women Engineers (Early-Leadership Program Chair), Humanitarian Engineering Scholars (Community Service Co-Chair), Phi Sigma Rho 

Co-ops & Internships: I will be interning at P&G in Research & Development in Summer 2022

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Don’t change yourself to fit in. This university is the perfect place to find a home for your authentic self.  

Why Buckeye Engineering: I picked Buckeye Engineering because as soon as I stepped on campus for a tour it felt like home. I knew Ohio State would welcome me in with open arms, and provide the support that I needed to get my degree and be successful in the workforce. I’ve really come to love the Buckeye campus as my home away from home.


 
Filipe Silveira
Filipe S.

2nd year Materials Science & Engineering

Campus Involvements: College of Engineering Ambassador; PREFACE Alumni (2020)

Co-ops & Internships: CREATES-HS (Cancer Research Experience for the Advancement and Training of Emerging Scientists)

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Please make sure to use the resources provided by the College of Engineering, especially tutoring. It is super helpful!

Why Buckeye Engineering: I chose Buckeye Engineering because it embodies open-mindedness, diversity and acceptance. I also did a lot of research before applying and I realized that Ohio State has one of the highest ranked engineering programs in the country and also provides students with thousands of dollars of scholarships.


 
Jessica S.
Jessica S.

3rd year Materials Science & Engineering

Campus Involvements: Society of Women Engineers; Buckeye Space Launch Initiative; Materials Science and Engineering Club; College of Engineering Ambassadors; Women in Engineering Learning Community; Women in Engineering  

Co-ops & Internships: Summer and Fall Polymer Co-op at Emerson in Sidney, Ohio

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Do not be afraid to reach out for help. College and engineering specifically are a whole new experience and a lot harder than high school. Buckeye engineers are not perfect!  

Why Buckeye Engineering: Buckeye Engineering offers a wide variety of disciplines to choose from including materials engineering. There is truly something for everyone and the first-year engineering program allows you to find or confirm your fit.  


 
Lauren U.
Lauren U. 

3rd year Chemical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Greek life, Scholars Program, AIChE, Service in Dentistry Club, Teaching Assistant 

Co-ops & Internships: I spent the summer of 2021 in Boston doing product research and development for a chemical cleaning company. 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: In almost every aspect of college – social, academic, or extracurricular – you get out what you put in, so make sure you put the purposeful time in the right place for the things that you need.  

Why Buckeye Engineering: Countless opportunities and resources at my disposal, and all I have to do to use them is to just ask. Amazing career fair and clubs that help with my networking.  


 
Nick V.
Nick V. 

4th year Materials Science & Engineering

Campus Involvements: President of Generations, College of Engineering Ambassadors, Materials Sciences & Engineering Club, Student Employee  

Co-ops & Internships: Materials Inspector position for the City of Columbus  

Advice to Future Buckeyes: Make sure you get involved on campus. Trust me, you won’t regret it! 

Why Buckeye Engineering: I choose Buckeye Engineering because it has always felt so welcoming. Since the first day I started as a Buckeye I have felt a part of this community. Everyone in the engineering college is very passionate about what they do and really makes an effort to get to know you as an individual. This kind of connection with your advisors and professors fosters an environment for success. As soon as I started as a Buckeye Engineer, I knew Ohio State was home.  


 
Veronica W.
Veronica W.

3rd year Biomedical Engineering

Campus Involvements: Undergraduate Teaching Assistant for College of Engineering; Vice President of WiE3+; Women in Engineering Learning Community; College of Engineering Ambassadors & Undergraduate Student Worker  

Co-ops & Internships: Telehealth/Telemedicine technology and device research at Justmiine in Chicago, Illinois 

Advice to Future Buckeyes: It’s important to remember why you’re here at Ohio State and how capable and worthy you are of success. Use that as motivation to continue through those obstacles while studying here, and the skills you learn along the way will allow you to be a more open-minded, aware, and resilient person. 

Why Buckeye Engineering: I chose Ohio State Engineering to be my home because it allowed me to create an engineering curriculum that fits both my academic and career goals, as well as provide me with a plethora of opportunities to enhance my leadership skills. After taking my first tour, I could tell that the College of Engineering provides students with a tremendous amount of support and prepares students for their endeavors in industry.