Montana State University

Women in Engineering Student Advisory Council biographies

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Hannah Arm and her dog Jax  

Hannah Arm, Mechanical Engineering

My name is Hannah Arm, and I am a Mechanical Engineering undergraduate student. I am originally from England, and I lived there until I was eleven when my family moved to the Boston area. I moved to Bozeman in 2003 after finishing my first undergraduate degree in Business from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. I worked locally for five years before returning to school in 2009. I am an avid outdoor enthusiast. In the winter I ice climb and ski and in the summer I rock climb and bike. My dog Jax accompanies me on most of my adventures. 

     
Christina Bakke  

Christina Bakke, Mechanical Engineering Technology (minor in Spanish)

My name is Christina Bakke. I’m from right here in Bozeman, and I am working toward a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology with a minor in Spanish. I am a very hands-on person, and my degree is amazing because it teaches how to soundly design a project and to build it with sophisticated machinery. This degree gives you shop time which has benefited the design process as to which designs are more effective or can be more easily made. With MET I’ve learned TIG, Stick, GMAW, and MIG welding along with using most basic machinery in a shop such as lathes, mills, band saws and grinders. I currently work at a machine shop, and it is awesome. I also am involved with Engineers Without Borders, a very hands-on club that implements well, latrine and water sanitation student designs to actual ground projects in Kenya. I love traveling; I hope to be a missionary someday where I can integrate language and building skills to help and improve areas in need.
     
Emily Bishop  

Emily H. Bishop, Mechanical Engineering

My name is Emily H. Bishop and I am from Billings, Montana. In high school I was never good at English, but I was great at math so I decided to explored my options in the College of Engineering. With the help of the M&IE office, I decided to become a Mechanical Engineering undergrad. Since then I have had so much fun in all of my classes and I love learning all about mechanical engineering. What keeps me passionate about being an engineer is that it gives me hope for a great future.  I am given so many opportunities by getting a degree in engineering. I recommend that if you don’t know what you want to do for the future, get a degree in engineering.

     
Virginia Cosgriff with kindergartners  

Virginia Cosgriff, master's candidate in Industrial Engineering

Hi, my name is Virginia Cosgriff, and I am currently working toward a master's in Industrial Engineering with a focus in Healthcare. My research is conducted at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital in the O.R. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in 2007 here at MSU, I lived in Japan for a year teaching English to kids K-9 in a small city called Kawakami. I learned a lot while living by myself, immersed in a different culture, while also being the only English speaking person in my town. It was a fantastic experience, and I would encourage others to study or work abroad if given the opportunity. I also volunteer with FIRST, which puts on robotics tournaments every year for hundreds of fourth through eighth graders and high school students.
 
 
Kelli Lemke  

Kelli Lemke, Chemical Engineering

I'm a senior in chemical engineering from Billings, Montana, and graduated high school with a class of ten from Billings Christian School. I'm passionate and compulsive and try to be nice; I love all things outside and active. Here in Bozeman, I am involved with SWE, CRU, and Tau Beta Pi. I chose engineering because I love the opportunity to not only learn about math and science but also apply them to make a difference in the world.
     
Sarah Lukes  

Sarah Lukes, doctoral candidate in Electrical Engineering

I’m a Wyoming native who participated in a fun electrical engineering internship in high school. I spent the summer designing and building a model of a flight simulator and making friendships that I still maintain. This experience sparked my interest in mechanical and electrical engineering, which I pursued as an undergraduate. I enjoyed the challenges associated with engineering and the hands-on nature of the work. While attaining my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, I interned for Dr. Cairns at MSU doing composite materials research, the Mayo Clinic writing a program to analyze x-rays, and Boston Scientific in Research and Development on stents to open up people’s clogged arteries. The Mayo Clinic was an awesome experience where I worked with the chief radiologist and shadowed an orthopedic surgeon. After graduating, I worked for a laser company in Bozeman, Mont., called S2 Corporation. I worked as a mechanical engineer on new designs for cryogenic applications (using liquid helium and nitrogen). After two years of working there, I decided to pursue a graduate degree in electrical engineering and am currently working under Dr. Dickensheets doing MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) research.

     
Kelsey Miller  

Kelsey Miller, Mechanical Engineering

My name is Kelsey Miller, and I am a senior in Mechanical Engineering. I grew up on a ranch near Harlowton, Montana. In 2007, I graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in Human Biology. After two years working and traveling, I decided to return to school at Montana State. I have always had an interest in math and science and felt engineering would suit me well. I also enjoy snowboarding, running, hiking, fishing, playing rugby, and pretty much anything else involving athletics and being outdoors.

     
Sarah Mondl  

Sarah Mondl, Computer Engineering

My name is Sarah Mondl, and I am originally from Anchorage, Alaska, and I’m working toward a degree in Computer Engineering. I originally chose computer engineering when I entered into a robotics competition put on by FIRST and fell in love with it. I’ve continued my involvement with FIRST as a volunteer and now pursue research into underwater computer vision navigation systems with the MSU RoboSub AUVSI Team.

     
Elle Pankratz  

Elle Pankratz, Bioengineering

Hey! My name is Elle Pankratz and I am from Helena, Montana. I’m a junior in Bioengineering and I love every minute of it. As both a woman and a Native American in engineering, I strive to be a strong and positive role model for young girls who wish to pursue a career in math and science. In addition to my studies, I assist Ph.D. candidate Natasha Mallette in the research of the biofuel production from the fungus, Gliocladium roseum, and I am a member of Society of Women in Engineering and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. I love to work out and run and I am currently training for a marathon. With a degree in Biological Engineering, I hope to one day work for a pharmaceutical company, engineering and developing better medicine for the rest of the world.

     
Stephani Schielke  

Stephani Schielke, Computer Science

My name is Stephani Schielke, and I have been living in Bozeman for the past 16 years. In addition to being a single mother to an awesome son, I am active in many different clubs and am currently the president of the Association for Women in Computing. My decision to major in Computer Science came after realizing that I had strong mathematical skills my second year as a Bio-Medical Sciences major. I love that computer science is applicable for all types of businesses. The high demand for it in most areas of the world is a big reassurance for my goal to live and work abroad in South America and/or Europe.

     
Brie Webber  

Brie Webber, Civil Engineering-BREN

My name is Brie Webber and I am from Kalispell, Montana. I am currently studying Bio Resources Engineering, an option of Civil Engineering. I love the mountains and being outside, so Bozeman seemed like the perfect place to study engineering. Skiing, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, and mountain climbing are a few of the activities that I enjoy in the Bozeman area. My passion for the outdoors has led me to be an engineer because I hope to make a difference some day for the preservation of the planet.