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We sat down with graduating fourth-year environmental engineering student Mia Lonergan to share about her ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engineering experience! Mia has served as treasurer for the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder Society of Women Engineers (SWE) during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.

What inspired you to pursue engineering or STEM in general? 

I always had a love for math and chemistry. I was always interested in understanding how things worked and why certain objects could function. This helped to align my interests in technology with STEM and pursue a career in engineering.

When did you know you wanted to study environmental engineering? 

I was heavily involved in 4H in elementary, middle and high school. Being part of the organization fostered my interest in sustainability and the needs of the future. I knew I wanted to study environmental engineering, as it offered a focus on energy conversion. Specifically, I wanted to pursue a career in the renewable energy sector, leading me to later pursue a minor in energy engineering in addition to my degree.

What challenges do you hope environmental engineering can solve in the future? 

I hope that environmental engineering can solve the energy crisis in the future, assisting in a clean transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Fossil fuels will always be used for transportation and electricity generation. However, incorporating a larger ratio of renewable energy like wind, solar, microgrids and hydrogen, will allow us to shift to a cleaner future.

What stood out to you about ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder as you considered college options? 

¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder stood out to me when I considered college options, as it offered both beauty and brains. I was interested in attending a university with a top-ranked engineering program that offered networking opportunities, resources for students and active hands-on learning experiences. ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engineering offered various opportunities to make connections with other students, professors and industry professionals. 

Specifically, the BOLD Center stuck out to me as it offers resources, tutoring, networking, professional development, student society involvement, and more to underrepresented students in engineering. Finally, Boulder offers plenty of outdoor activities including hiking and snowboarding nearby: two of my favorite hobbies. Not to mention, you can’t beat the view of the Flatirons every morning!

What are some of your memorable experiences at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engineering? 

Some of my memorable experiences at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Engineering include participating in the Mechanical Engineering Senior Design project on the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Buffwind Team. It has been an amazing experience contributing to a project that will be presented at the Department of Energy NREL Collegiate Wind Competition this May. Another memorable experience included participating in BuffProjects where I got to work with a group of students on an industry project. Finally, I have been heavily involved in the Society of Women Engineers where I unlocked countless experiences and connections. 

What are your favorite aspects of being involved with SWE? 

My favorite aspects of being involved with SWE include mentorships, networking opportunities, industry exposure and the opportunity to meet women and other minorities in both STEM and engineering fields here at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ. 

Our mentorship program has connected me with various undergraduate students as well as fostered connections with industry mentors. I have had the opportunity to network with 50+ companies here on campus and 200+ companies at both national and local conferences through the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Boulder Society of Women Engineers. 

This is my second year serving on the executive board as treasurer. It has allowed me to partake in SWE on both a national and local level and assist the section in achieving our goals. SWE has truly transformed my experience at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

Why should someone consider joining SWE? 

Someone should consider joining SWE if they want to meet new people within the school of engineering; practice networking; partake in STEM-related activities with younger audiences including elementary school students, middle school students, high school students, and Girl Scouts; travel to national and local conferences where you can meet engineers of all ages in all industries; partake in professional development; or do a fun activity with other students at one of our weekly meetings! 

Are you involved with other student organizations on campus? 

During my time here at ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ, I have participated in Engineers Without Borders Rwanda, the Society of Environmental Engineers, the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Energy Club and currently the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ Wind Energy Club.

What are your plans after graduation? 

I plan to take some time to travel during the summer before starting with Mortenson as a wind energy group field engineer on their wind team. I look forward to working on-site during the construction of wind farms.