Megan McCall

She/Her/Hers

• What does being a First-Generation College Graduate mean to you?

Being a first-generation college graduate means honoring the support from my family and setting a successful foundation for generations to come. My parents persevered so that I could have a better life and I am thankful that they encouraged me to pursue a higher education despite not knowing the ins and outs themselves.

• What is your proudest moment from your time at UCSD?

My proudest moment from my time at UC San Diego was achieving my first internship through the Society of Women Engineers. I got to put the skills I learned from classes and project teams to the test and prove that I can make it as a successful women engineer.

• What advice do you have for current or future first-generation students?

Attend all of the professional, technical, and educational workshops you can that apply to your degree and career choice. You should take all the advice you can get about the professional world because they expect you to just know a lot of things despite this being your family’s first exposure to it all.

• Who are the family members, friends or loved ones who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

My mom and dad have been the most influential throughout my college journey. They helped me believe that I could accomplish anything that came my way and supported me when I needed it most. I can’t thank them enough for helping me get through school and into the workforce.

• Who are the staff, faculty or mentors who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

My peers from the Society of Women Engineers and the Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at UCSD helped me develop my technical and professional skills the most at UCSD. My future wouldn’t be nearly as bright without getting to know all of them.

• What do you plan or hope to do after graduating?

After graduation, I hope to jump straight into the Aerospace industry as a Space Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman and work towards my Space Systems Masters at Johns Hopkins University. Hopefully these degrees will take me to even greater places.

Campus Affiliations

Campus Involvement

• Vice President External for the Rocket Propulsion Laboratory at UCSD

• Academic Chair for the Society of Women Engineers at UCSD

Cultural and Resource Centers

• Women's Center