Alumni
Nichole Adams
Polymer Materials Engineering, BS, 2024, Outstanding Graduate
“The PME program provides you with the tools necessary to thrive in your professional and personal life. The professors really emphasize hands on learning, creativity, thoughtfulness, team work and community. The students and professors care about making a positive contribution to the world. This is shown throughout the courses and the research projects that get selected. If I had to do it all over again, I would choose to go into this program every time, that’s how impactful it will be on your career goals and your character.”
Project Engineer, Janicki Industries
Ermias Hagos
Manufacturing Engineering, BS, 2024
“I’ve loved my experience in the Manufacturing program. Each of the classes I took provided me with a new focus, knowledge and renewed view on the field of Manufacturing Engineering. The quality classes I took will now prove to be useful as I step foot into my role at Boeing.”
Quality Inspector for Assembly, Boeing
Elise Batten
Industrial Design, BS, 2024
"The WWU Industrial Design program's blend of user experience, design, and engineering provided a truly unique educational experience! It built my toolbox of skills to design meaningful products, empathize with end users, and communicate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders. The courses and internships here cultivated a deep understanding of form, function, and materials that allowed me to pursue a career in the footwear industry.
Time spent in this program will not only shape you as a designer but also fosters meaningful friendships, refine your values, and help you discover ways to make the world a better place."
Footwear Designer, Oboz Footwear, Bozeman, Montana
Colter Creson
Electrical and Computer Engineering, BS, 2023
"The Electrical Engineering program at Western Washington University offers a transformative experience for those who are committed to making the most of it. The program’s hands-on learning approach and extensive lab work ensure that students are well-prepared for real-world environments, offering a distinct advantage over more theory-driven programs.
Success in this program comes from hard work and taking personal responsibility for your education. The professors here provide invaluable support every step of the way. Also, remember that kindness and soft skills are just as important as technical prowess. Use this time to develop these interpersonal skills, as they are essential in any professional setting."
Advanced Controls Engineer, PACCAR
Gina Kim
Manufacturing Engineering, BS, 2021, Outstanding Graduate
"Having my Manufacturing Engineering background at Western has been super helpful because I have a good understanding of things like process flow and ergonomics. The program at Western is great because what we learned in class and labs is what you see in the field and having this type of hands-on experience was the best way to learn!"
Undergraduate Research: Tool Wear in Aramid Honeycomb Machining Research
Activities and societies: Society of Women Engineers, Mentor for the Becoming Engaged Engineering Scholars program
Robotics Sales Specialist, Olympus Controls, Seattle, Washington
Levi Hamernik
Plastics & Composites Engineering, BS, 2019, Outstanding Graduate
Undergraduate research: Development of Benzoxazine Matrix - Best Student Paper, Waterbourne Symposium 2019
1st Place Recipient, PhD Category, SAMPE University Research Symposium, 2022
"Thermally Reprocessable and Chemically Recyclable Polyimine Vitrimers Derived from Main-Chain Benzoxazine Polymers (MCBPs)"
Postdoctoral Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado
Kelsey Leppek
Industrial Design, BS, 2022
Kelsey was awarded the 2022 West District Student Merit Winner from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) in her senior year. Kelsey is originally from Colorado and has an eclectic work background in pottery, trail building, wilderness therapy guide, and sustainability educator.
Industrial Designer, Astro Studios, San Francisco
Dan Struble
Polymer Materials Engineering, BS, 2023, Outstanding Graduate
"Few other programs offer the combination of skills and opportunities afforded by Western's PME program. Breadth is provided through coursework ranging from the theoretical and microscale up to macroscale engineering and manufacturing. Depth can be found in the program's robust undergraduate research opportunities. Combine these with the greatest and most supportive faculty and staff, collaborative cohorts facilitated by smaller class sizes, and more hands-on learning than you'll get anywhere else; and you have a truly unique and amazing program."
Undergraduate research: Novel biobased alternatives for high-performance thermoset composite matrices
Student Clubs: Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering (SAMPE), Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)
PhD Candidate, University of Southern Mississippi, School of Polymer Science & Engineering
Paul Goins
Manufacturing Engineering, BS, 2021
"The Manufacturing Engineering program here at Western was an amazing experience for me. Each class I took brought with it an exciting opportunity to learn more about how the products we see and use every day are created, and I was able to bring home quite the assortment of fascinating parts that I had the satisfaction of making myself. On top of that, all the professors genuinely cared about my success and development as an engineer, and I was able to work alongside a group of my peers who became some of my closest friends."
Quality Engineer, Janicki Industries, Sedro-Woolley, WA
Matthew Kosica
Industrial Design, BS, 2021, Outstanding Graduate
"The WWU ID program was instrumental in shaping my success. Thanks to the unique blend of engineering and design education offered by WWU, the collaboration between engineers, business stakeholders, and end-users of the products I design feels more seamless, setting me apart in this competitive field. It provided me with the essential tools, knowledge, and skills to secure my first ID job while nurturing character traits for continued growth, perseverance, and success."
Industrial Designer, HP, San Francisco, CA
Lina Ghanbari
Plastics & Composites Engineering, BS, 2019
Materials Science Minor
"The WWU Engineering & Design Department offers incredible opportunities for those who are willing to seek them out. Be open to new experiences and try to get out of your comfort zone, you may find a passion for an aspect of engineering you did not know you had!"
Research projects: Benzoxazine Nanocomposites for Additive Manufacturing
Student Clubs: Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineers (SAMPE)
PdD Candidate, Polymer Science, University of Southern Mississippi
Riley Hernandez
Electrical and Computer Engineering, BS, 2020
Mathematics, BS, 2020
"WWU's Electrical and Computer Engineering program is an intense but thoroughly rewarding program. It is also lab-based curriculum over one that is strictly theory-based."
Student Club: Society of Women Engineers
Electrical Engineer and Designer, Anvil Corp., Bellingham
Christine Kerby
Manufacturing Engineering, BS, 2019
Mathematics Minor
"WWU offers a hands on learning environment that not only supports students in their pursuit of an engineering degree, but also in being adventurous with their interests and extracurricular activities. A program only limited by an individual’s imagination and perseverance."
Student Club: Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Reliability Engineer, Ash Grove Cement Seattle
Evan Sacker
Electrical and Computer Engineering - Energy Concentration, BS, 2021
Mathematics Minor
"If you’re willing to work hard, you’ll go far. Perseverance is key. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it’s all around you in this program. There is a strong sense of community at Western and it is a really valuable experience if you embrace it."
Student Clubs: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
System Operations Engineer, Powin Energy
Jo Bloomfield
Industrial Design, BS, 2021
User Experience Minor
"Being a part of the Industrial Design program has been a game changer. I'm thankful for the hands on learning experience and tight knit bond I made with my peers and professors.
I will never regret the endless hours and determination it took to make it through the Industrial Design program. I know I am graduating with an abundance of skills, and a love for the career path I set myself up for."
Student Club: Industrial Designers Society of America
Industrial Designer at Master & Dynamic, Bellingham
Katherine Ray
Plastics & Composites Engineering, BS, 2019
"The Plastics and Composites program at Western Washington University is a well balanced program that focuses on both the theoretical and physical requirements for plastics processing, coupled with extremely valuable hands-on learning. The professors and leaders of this program provide the education, community, and opportunities necessary for success after graduation."
Research projects: Zodiac Aerospace and Nike sponsored projects
Student Clubs: Society of Women Engineers
Process Engineer, Nike, Beaverton, OR
Myann Refai
Manufacturing Engineering, BS, 2017, Outstanding Graduate
"In my role it’s important for me to be a “detective” and look for any and all manufacturing concerns in the 3D virtual CAD space for my given vehicle program before it makes its way to a plant for production. So I look for things such as ergo concerns, locating features on parts, keeping fasteners common across multiple vehicles in the same plant, etc. When I identify issues or opportunities for improvement, I then work with the product team to resolve them!"
Student Club: Society of Women Engineers
Engineering Supervisor, Ford Motor Company, Michigan
Rob Kearney
Plastics & Composites Engineering, BS, 2017
Material Science, MS, University of Southern California, 2020
"WWU Engineering takes a multi-disciplinary approach to problem solving and positions you to be an effective team member on any project you are a part of. I encourage getting involved in Professional Societies such as SWE, SAMPE, ASM, or many others to ensure you are driving your learning to the relevant problems of industry, and get involved in research as soon as possible."
Undergraduate research: Resin Transfer Molding Materials & Process Development for Aerospace Sandwich Composite Parts
Student Club: Society for the Advancement of Materials and Process Engineers (SAMPE)
Product Development Engineer, Boeing, Seattle
Elayna Simmons
Plastics & Composites Engineering, BS, 2018
"The PCE major is a fantastic program with so many ways to learn hands-on and make connections in a real world area of expertise. Challenge yourself to learn about the beauty -- and drawbacks -- of plastics and composites. There's much more than meets the eye or what you see in media."
Undergraduate research: Biobased and biodegradable plastics
Recycling Department Manager Engineer, Achilles USA
Angela Plessner
Manufacturing Engineering, BS, 2017
"The best part of the program was the hands on portions. The time spent doing engineering activities and not just learning about them really helped me understand and feel confident in applying those learnings to real life. Get involved in clubs and internships. It was those extra things that landed me in a great role after graduation."
Student Clubs: Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Society of Women Engineers
Quality Engineer, Fluke Electronics
Michael Konig
Industrial Technology - Vehicle Design, BS, 2018
MBA, Kansas University
"Get involved in a club (especially WWU Racing) or activity in the engineering department. It’s the best way to get hands on experience and learn from students outside your major, which will make you that much more valuable when entering the workforce. Also, understand how lucky you are to be in a program that is to focused on lab based work."
Student Club: Society of Automotive Engineers - WWU Racing
Business Operations Manager, Motivo Engineering, Gardena, CA
Jacob Green
Plastics & Composites Engineering, BS, 2014
Material Science Minor
"The best ABET accredited Plastics Engineering program of it's kind. Not only do students learn theory from professors who have backgrounds in industry, the labs at WWU are fully equipped with analysis and plastics processing equipment for hands on experience that is invaluable for landing that first engineering job. I had my first industry job offer before walking the graduation stage thanks to the reputation and prestige of WWU."
Process Engineer, Cascadia Custom Molding
Dr. Jeffrey Stuart Wiggins
Industrial Technology, BS, 1988
College of Science & Engineering, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2017
Jeff received his BS at WWU and then went on to get his MBA. Soon after, he was General Manager for Nike at a time of significant environmental regulations, which he helped the company emerge with a completely new product line. He later went back to school to receive his PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering from the U of So Mississippi. He is currently a faculty member at USM in Polymer Science and Engineering. He directs a multi-million-dollar research group with multiple industrial partners while also helping create a pipeline for WWU undergrads to consider research as a career (through NSF’s REU program and by recruiting WWU graduates to USM’s grad programs which he does by visiting campus once a year). He has published 23 papers since 2010 relative to his current work at U of So Mississippi.
Director of the School of Polymers, University of Southern Mississippi