Academic Background
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” ~John Dewey
My educational path began with K-12 schooling in Rapid City, SD. I decided to pursue engineering and attended Iowa State University for my Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. I discovered a love of learning and decided to pursue research by obtaining a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame. While at ND, I discovered a passion for educating others, and a whole research field in the science of engineering education! Thus, my career path was set - with thanks to all my teachers, professors, and mentors along the way!
I attended college at Iowa State University where I studied chemical engineering (I completed my lab work in London) and was a member of the marching band and men's basketball pep band. During college, I worked at Ames Laboratory doing materials research regarding magnetic refrigeration and also earned some industrial experience working at Salsbury Chemicals (now Cambrex Charles City) and Argonne National Laboratory.
After college, I attended graduate school at the University of Notre Dame, earning both my master's degree and doctorate through research in using Ionic Liquids for gas separations. My research advisor was Dr. Joan Brennecke. In particular, we are interested in the removal of 'atmospheric pollutant' removal, in particular CO2 and SO2 from industrial power plant flue gases.
Basketball pep band on VEISHA parade float in 2002.
Brennecke research team at the University of Notre Dame in 2006