Meet Melissa Dery — Featured Student for November

Where are you from? Tyngsborough, MA

What school do you go to? What year are you?

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Senior, Class of 2015

Do you hold any positions in your AIChE chapter or with AIChE nationally?

President of the AIChE Student Chapter at WPI

Describe an event in your chapter that you are most proud to have been involved with.

I am most proud to be involved in WPI AIChE's ChE Mentor Program. This is the first year where students could either sign up to be a mentor, or to have a mentor. A total of eighty chemical engineering students are involved.

What are your plans after graduation? In what field are you most interested in having an impact?

After graduation, I want to start working as a process engineer and have an impact in that field. I want to work with a team and excel.

How do you blow off steam and keep your sanity between classes, homework and projects?

When I'm feeling stressed at school, I call my grandmother. She's really good about counting down the days until I'm on break. She gets excited, and I do, too.

How did you decide to pursue a degree in ChE?

In high school, I loved calculus and chemistry. I wanted to be challenged in college, so I decided on ChE. It's been a real challenge, and I love it.

What will you be most saddened to leave behind at school when you move on?

When I leave school, I'll miss seeing my friends everyday; the friends from Tennis Club, AIChE, and classes, too.

What is the most unexpected thing you have been asked in an interview?

I had an interview with an alum who was familiar with WPI AIChE. He asked me if we needed funding. I did not expect to receive money for Nationals when I entered that interview room!

Do you have any advice to incoming students and underclassmen ChEs around the world?

My advice is to become involved with your school's AIChE Chapter. If the chapter is not as active as you'd like it to be, change it. Network with students, professors, and professionals. Have fun with leadership roles, and make a difference.

How would you like to be involved with AIChE after graduation?

After graduation, I want to be an AIChE Young Professional. I also want to keep in touch with the WPI AIChE chapter.

Join us in CONGRATULATING Melissa by commenting below!

Comments

congrats.. i want you to be my mentor.. i desperately need help in my chemical engineering

brocdilemma's picture

WAHHHOOO!!!! you go girl!

Michael Woodlock's picture

Congrats Melissa. One of my favorite students ever. So proud that you are a THS alum.