Welcome to WE Link
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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. |
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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
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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
 Dr. Beth M. Holloway | 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
Dr. 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.
Dr. 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. Dr. Holloway 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, Dr. 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. Dr. Holloway earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Engineering Education, all from Purdue University.
She is an advocate for research-informed approaches to engineering education equity, policy, as well as student recruitment and retention efforts. She is a strong supporter of underrepresented populations in engineering, including women, minorities, and first-generation college students. A few of her podcasts of these topics can be found at:
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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.
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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.
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 Emily Grace Helmuth | Junior | Civil Engineering
Hometown: Crown Point, IN
Emily is a co-chair of the Recruitment Project Committee of WE Link. Along with WE Link, she is involved with Kiewit Scholars, Purdue Orientation Programs, Civil Ambassadors, Purdue Gymnastics Club, Dance Marathon's Morale, and WIEP M&M. Emily spent last summer as a Specialty Camp Coordinator for a YMCA day camp. Emily enjoys watching Purdue sports and traveling.
"I love being involved in WE Link as it has given me a supportive community here at Purdue! It has helped me to grow my professional skills and connect with prospective students, current students, and alumni."
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 Isa Hollenstein | Sophomore | Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Grayslake, IL
In addition to WE Link, Isa is part of the WiE Mentees and Mentors program. 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."
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 Sophia Jarc | Sophomore | Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Sophia is a social media co-chair for WE Link. In addition to WE Link, she is a member of the Women in Engineering Mentees and Mentors program, a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader, and a member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. In her free time, she enjoys working out, 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."
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 Rebecca Marie Jennings | Senior | Materials Science and Engineering
Hometown: Lisle, IL
Becca is the RPC co-chair for WE Link. Outside of WE Link, she is heavily involved in various roles within the Purdue Athletic Department and is the acting Vice President of Purdue Triathlon Club. This past summer, Becca worked for Garmin, Int. as a Colors, Materials, and Finishes (CMF) Engineer in Olathe, KS. She enjoys keeping an active lifestyle - between triathlon, climbing, and Crossfit - and spending quality time with friends and family.
"I love WE Link because I can see the direct impact I have on prospective students. I wanted to be a part of this program and connect with students since I know how much of a positive effect it had on me as an incoming freshman."
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Alena Megregian | Senior | Civil Engineering
Hometown: Brownsburg, IN
Alena is a co-chair of the Recruitment Project Committee of WE Link. In addition to WE Link, Alena is also involved with WiE Mentees and Mentors. Alena spent last summer on a Civil Engineering Maymester Study Abroad and she interned with the general contractor Swinerton in Denver, CO. Alena enjoys spending time outdoors and cheering on our Purdue sports!
"I love WE Link because it's what brought me to Purdue. I loved the idea of having a community that would support me and help make a big campus feel small. I am excited to give back and to hopefully help high school students realize the potential that they can have at Purdue."
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 Athulya Nair | Senior | Biological Engineering
Hometown: Greenwood, Indiana
Athulya is a co-chair for the volunteer nights for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Athulya is also a member of the Women in Engineering Mentees and Mentors Program and IPSE. She spent the last summer interning with PepsiCo at the Quaker plant in Illinois. Outside of school, Athulya likes to read, go on walks, and try new coffee shops.
"I love WE Link because it helped me realize that Purdue Engineering was a right fit for me, and now I have the opportunity to help other prospective female students discover their passion for engineering and the STEM field."
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 Ella Richardson | Junior | Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Ella is a volunteer nights co-chair of WE Link. In addition to WE Link, she is involved in the Leading Women Toward Space Careers Program and Boiler Gold Rush Orientation Programs. Last summer, Ella was a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow at Zucrow Laboratories here at Purdue. In her free time, Ella enjoys hiking, building Legos, and watching movies.
"I love WE Link because it gives me the opportunity to connect with prospective students. The sense of community and support from the Women in Engineering Program is what attracted me to Purdue in the first place, and I love being able to share my experience and love for Purdue now with future students to bring it full circle."
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