Alumni Spotlights
Rachel Beck Tranel
Current Position: Process Engineer at Tekni-Plex, a medical packaging manufacturer
SWE Illinois Involvement: I joined SWE as a freshman studying chemical engineering. I first got involved with the Information & Marketing Committee. As a sophomore, I was Community Service Director. As a junior, I was External Vice President. As a senior, I was the Nominating Committee Chair. In addition to roles in the section, I sought out opportunities at the Society level of SWE. I was accepted to the SWE Future Leader (SWEFL) program as a junior, and I was elected SWE Region H Collegiate Communications Editor as a senior.
Favorite SWE Events: I enjoyed the Be Professional dinners. I miss all the chances to hang out with SWE friends in E Hall (and eat free food)!
Takeaways from SWE: SWE is a great environment to practice leadership skills that will serve you in your career.
Advice: Studying engineering is hard. Remind yourself that it's okay to fail, and it takes time, work, and help from others to learn and succeed. Building a network of supportive friends and colleagues will help.
Carolyn Primus
Current Position: Consultant
SWE Illinois Involvement: General Member and Chapter President
Favorite SWE Events: Engineering Open House; Luncheon with Mothers
Takeaways from SWE: Women can be wonderful engineers
Advice: Study for excellence; cultivate confidence
AMY MUELLER
Current Position: Mechanical Engineer
SWE Illinois Involvement: General Member
Favorite SWE Events: The several volunteering opportunities as it’s always rewarding to help younger students develop an interest in STEM!
Takeaways from SWE: SWE is a great organization because it gives women in engineering an opportunity to connect with each other and their community. It can be difficult being a female engineer, and SWE provides many great tools and resources to help make it easier.
Advice: Try new things! You never know where life is going to take you. Be open to opportunities to learn, grow, and broaden your experiences. My most rewarding experience in college was the semester I spent studying abroad.
Tara CULLERTON
Current Position: R&D Scientist
SWE Illinois Involvement: Chair and Director for the Community Service Committee, Nominating Committee
Favorite SWE Events: Relay for Life, Girl Scout Workshops, and Barn Dance!
Takeaways from SWE: SWE was an amazing community and I made a ton of friends. I also grew a lot as a person & learned a lot about leadership through holding a chair position and being on the officer board.
Advice: Get involved in leadership positions in student organizations and go to conferences! They can help so much with professional development, figuring out what to look for in a career, and are an amazing opportunity to meet & network with people from other universities & industry professionals.
Alex Palasz
Current Position: Medical Product Specialist
SWE Illinois Involvement: Alumni Relations Chair and Director for the Professional Liaison Committee
Favorite SWE Events: Little Sister's Weekend and Monthly Bagel Breaks to get to know more SWEsters!
Takeaways from SWE: Women are powerful and it's important to build women up at all stages of their careers. Also, no matter what age someone is, all women have the ability to learn from one another.
Advice: Always advocate for yourself. At some point in your career or education you will be put in an uncomfortable situation, and understand that you need to have the courage to speak up for yourself as well as know that there are others out there who are willing to help you and advise you in the tough times!
Melanie Willi
Current Position: Systems Integration Engineer
SWE Illinois Involvement: General Member
Favorite SWE Events: General Meetings to hear from various corporate sponsors!
Takeaways from SWE: SWE has been a primary source of networking and friendships with like minded women.
Advice: Work to build friendships with like minded women while you're in college and in SWE, they are much farther and fewer in between in the work place.