Welcome to WE Link
|
The Personal Connection Program was formed by Purdue University, in 1991, through the funding from a three-year grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and has subsequently relied on corporate sponsorship. The program was renamed WE Link, in 2012, to emphasize the program's focus on connecting with prospective women engineering students. The WE Link Leadership Team, made up of undergraduate engineering students, aims to reach out to prospective female engineering students in high school and to serve as their connection to Purdue. WE Link acts as their personal link to Purdue University with two main focuses:
WE Link portrays the academic and social experiences associated with the exciting and opportunity filled engineering program Purdue offers. WE Link focuses on activities that help young women interested in engineering learn more about life as a female engineering student at Purdue by discussing dorm life, typical classes for engineering students, and other awesome experiences Purdue students have. |
|
We're here to connect you to Purdue and answer any questions you have about Purdue Women in Engineering. As current undergraduate women in engineering, we are your link to engineering, student life, and everything Purdue has to offer! We are dedicated to smoothing your transition into engineering and life at Purdue by answering your questions and sharing our knowledge with you. We'd love to answer any questions you have. Drop a note at our blog or contact us at welink@purdue.edu Get Social
|
|
WE Link is excited about our initiatives to connect with senior high school girls and share our experiences in Purdue Engineering with them. We would like your help to share more current student experiences with these girls. Your stories help them relate to the Purdue experience and get excited about becoming a future Boilermaker! We connect with these girls through the WE Link blog, " The Engineering Experience ," and WE Link Instagram . We are currently looking for volunteers to help us with content for all of our efforts. Watch your e-mail for an invitation at the beginning of each semester (September and January) to attend our WE Link Volunteer Callout. Over dinner, you'll learn more about what we do and how you can get involved. |
Meet the Team
 Beth M. Holloway, PhD | Senior Assistant Dean for Student Access and Success
Leah H. Jamieson Director of Women in Engineering
Professor of Engineering Practice, Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
Holloway has been the director of the Women in Engineering Program since 2001. As assistant dean, she is responsible for the college's recruitment and scholarship strategy, broadening participation in our undergraduate programs, and all aspects of undergraduate student success. Her research areas include: admissions practices, sophomores in engineering, and gender issues in engineering and leadership. She received the 2012 IBM Faculty Advisor Award, the 2012 national Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, the 2013 Purdue University Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award, the 2014 Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) Distinguished Service Award, and the 2015 ASEE William E. Wickenden Award for the best paper published in the Journal of Engineering Education during 2014. She was elected fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) in 2017, and fellow of the Society of Women Engineers in 2022. Under her leadership, the Purdue Women in Engineering Program received the 2013 WEPAN Women in Engineering Program Award and the 2014 ABET Claire L. Felbinger Award for Diversity.
Holloway was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) from 2019-2022, serving as vice president of Professional Interest Councils in 2020-2021. She has also been President of the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) in 2006-2007, and served on WEPAN's Board of Directors from 2005-2008. She currently serves as the advisor to the Purdue Section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Phi Sigma Rho Sorority.
Prior to joining Purdue, Holloway was a research and development engineering group leader at Cummins, Inc., where she was a recognized corporate engine lubrication system expert, with specialties in piston cooling nozzle and lubrication pump performance. Holloway earned BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering and a PhD in engineering education, all from Purdue University.
|
|
Cathy Deno | Senior Administrative Assistant
Cathy has served as a member of the Women in Engineering (WiE) Program staff since 1984. She works with WiE's WE Link recruitment program, the Mentees & Mentors Program for undergraduate students, and the Graduate Women in Engineering (GWEN) program. She assists in the hiring and supervision of student leadership teams for these programs and coordinates the employment and payroll processes for over 100 students who serve on a variety of WiE's leadership teams. In addition, Cathy handles the tracking and reporting of expenses for WiE.
|
|
Dawn Mikels | Senior Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
Office: Dudley Hall, Room 2516
Phone: (765) 494-3889
Email: djmikels@purdue.edu
Ms. Mikels joined the Women in Engineering (WiE) Program staff in 2005. She supports the WiE directors and serves as the liaison to other university program offices, engineering faculty and staff, alumni and corporate partners. She manages contact for internal and external office communications and public relations. She supervises the Operations Assistant student leadership team and assists the WE Link student recruitment program. She administers WiE's stewardship processes and initiatives and provides assistance for WiE's annual scholarship awards for current students. She is responsible for internal and external aspects of recruitment initiatives and event planning of Exploring Engineering at Purdue visits for high school juniors and seniors. She also assists with outreach programming for Introduce a Girl to Engineering, Engineering FYI: For Your Imagination and K-5 Programs.
|
 Emily Grace Helmuth | Senior | Civil Engineering
Hometown: Crown Point, IN
Emily is a co-chair of the Volunteer Nights committee for WE Link. Outside of WE Link, Emily is also a two-time color captain of PUDM's morale committee, a Kiewit Scholar, a civil engineering ambassador, a part of the club gymnastics team and a member of the Women in Engineering Mentor and Mentee Program. Emily also volunteered with Boiler Gold Rush (new student orientation) for two years, as a team leader and team supervisor, and was the 2023 Roger Sharritt Award recipient for her work as a team supervisor. In summer of 2023, Emily interned with Kiewit Oil and Gas Engineering as a structural design engineering intern in Houston. This past summer, Emily interned with Kiewit Building Group as a field/office engineer intern on the Lili'uokalani Community Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Outside of school, Emily likes to travel, hang out with friends, swim and hike.
"I love WE Link because it helped me connect to other Purdue students within my major and engineering as a whole. It definitely made Purdue feel more like a home."
|
 Isa Hollenstein | Junior | Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Grayslake, IL
Isa a co-chair of Social Media for WE Link. In addition to WE Link, Isa is part of the WiE Mentees and Mentors program as well as outdoor and indoor intramural volleyball teams. In the summers of 2023 and 2024, Isa interned with Abbott Laboratories working in research and development in Abbott Park, Illinois. Outside of school, Isa loves to hike, spend time outside and read.
"I love WE Link because it was one of the organizations that solidified my decision to come to Purdue. I enjoy giving back to a program that influenced my decision, and I look forward to seeing the impact my efforts in WE Link have on helping prospective students choose Purdue."
|
 Sophia Jarc | Senior | Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Sophia is a co-chair of volunteer nights for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Sophia is also a team supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush, on the Mentorship Board of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, a part of the undergraduate industrial engineer "Viva Voce" committee. Outside of school, Sophia enjoys fitness, baking and cheering on Purdue sports.
"I love WE Link because it allows me to make an impact on prospective student's college decisions. I am honored to be able to give back to the program that helped me make my decision to become a Boilermaker Engineer."
|
 Ellie Bergeron | Sophomore | Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
Ellie is a co-chair of recruitment project committee for WE Link. In addition to WE Link, she is part of the Women in Engineering Mentees and Mentors program and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. This past summer, Ellie worked as a civil/environmental engineering intern at the City of Naperville's Department of Public Utilities in Naperville, Illinois. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, crafting and watching documentaries.
"I love WE Link because it gives me a direct way to interact with prospective students and share my experience at Purdue. The Women in Engineering Program was one of the biggest reasons I chose Purdue, and I love being able to give back to that program and help prospective students have the same great experience that I had."
|
|
Cynthia Castaneda | Junior | Computer Engineering
Hometown: Indianapolis
Cynthia is a co-chair of social media for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Cynthia is also the secretary for Delta Phi Mu Sorority Inc., the secretary for Latinos in Science and Engineering, a member of the Society of Women Engineers and a Purdue Promise Scholar. This past summer, Cynthia interned as an embedded systems engineer at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis. She has also interned as a manufacturing engineer at Allison Transmission and as a Device Manufacturing Engineer at Eli Lilly. Outside of school and work, Cynthia loves to watch movies, play board games and hang out with friends.
"I love WE Link because I remember feeling overwhelmed as a prospective student, and through WE Link, I am able to make one-on-one connections with students to help answer questions, give advice and hopefully make their college decision easier."
|
 Maddie French | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Chicago
Maddie is a co-chair of recruitment project committee for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Maddie is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers, the WiE Program's Mentees and Mentors Program, the Healthy Celebrations Running Club and Greek life. This past school year, Maddie also volunteered as a Boiler Gold Rush (new student orientation) team leader. Outside of school, Maddie loves to play basketball, hang out with friends and run the Chicago lakefront trail.
"I love WE Link because I get to connect with prospective students and can share what I love about Purdue and its community. The Women in Engineering Program offers so many resources and WE Link allows me to share everything I love about the program."
|
 Ella Richardson | Senior | Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Ella is a co-chair of the recruitment project committee for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Ella is also the social media chair for the Leading Women Towards Space Careers Program, a member of Salt Company Purdue, the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Mechanical Engineering and the WiE Program's undergraduate Mentees and Mentors Program. This past summer, Ella interned at Barrios Technology working on ISS Consumables at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Outside of school, Ella loves to hike, watch Disney movies and cozy up with a good book.
"I love WE Link because I get to reflect on what I love about Purdue and connect with prospective students! It's exciting to hear what everyone is interested in and use my experiences at Purdue to connect them with resources best fit to help them pursue their passions."
|
 Mia Ortlieb | Sophomore | Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Sarasota, Florida
Mia is a co-chair of volunteer nights for WE Link. Outside of WE Link, Mia is also a member of the EPICS team for the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI), Theme Park and Design Club, Salt Company Purdue, Women in Mechanical Engineering and a mentor for the WiE Mentees and Mentors Program. This past summer, Mia interned for Terran Orbital as a mechanical engineering intern in Melbourne, Florida. Outside of school, Mia likes to travel, play soccer and hang out with friends.
"I love WE Link because it helped make Purdue feel like my home away from home. I'm passionate about inspiring prospective students and seeing how this program positively impacts others, just as it did for me."
|
Sponsored by:
 |
 |
 |
|
