IDEAL Learning Communities
IDEAL = InDustrial Engineers Are Leaders
At Iowa State University, learning communities are groups of students who generally take several courses together and are in similar major programs. IDEAL Learning Communities help Industrial Engineering students transition into college life by developing a supportive network of students, peer mentors, faculty and staff. Peer mentors are successful, experienced IE students who share their academic, internship, study abroad and campus involvement experiences with community members. They regularly schedule out-of-class activities, ranging from study groups to social events. Contact idealpm@iastate.edu for more information.
Meet the 2022-2023 Peer Mentors
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Crystal Lake, Illinois
Hobbies: Reading, walking, watching sports, traveling
Clubs and organizations: Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Favorite memory at ISU: My first ISU football game with my friends!
Advice for new students: Take advantage of every resource given to you. The transition into college can be difficult and it’s definitely easier when you reach out for help. Don’t think you’re in this alone!
Interesting fact about me: I studied abroad in Limerick, Ireland during the Spring 2022 semester. During my time there, I visited 12 countries!
Year: Sophomore
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Packwood, Iowa
Hobbies: Hiking, reading, going to the lake, and hanging out with friends!
Clubs: Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), Society of Women Engineers
Favorite Memory at ISU: Playing spikeball outside Friley!
Advice for new students: Work hard to achieve your goals, but take time to yourself and have the college experience because it goes by fast!
An interesting fact about me: More people lived in my college dorm hall than in my hometown! And no we did not have a gas station in my hometown either.
Year: Junior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Chesterfield, Missouri
Hobbies: Swimming, playing Water Polo, hanging out with friends, and watching the Blues!
Clubs and organizations: Water Polo Club, Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)
Favorite memory at ISU: Traveling to Notre Dame and Mizzou with Water Polo Club and getting to stay in an Airbnb as a team
Advice for new students: Don’t be afraid to put yourself out and try something new! You’ll be surprised by the people you’ll meet and the opportunities presented to you.
Interesting fact about me: I’m from St. Louis, so I call it Bread co. (the correct name) not Panera
Year: Senior
Major/Minor: Industrial Engineering in the concurrent MBA program
Hometown: Blaine, Minnesota
Hobbies: Playing volleyball or soccer, reading, working out, travelling, and hanging with friends.
Clubs: Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Sales Engineering Club, and The Salt Company
Favorite Memory at ISU: Tailgating when College Game Day came to Ames!
Advice for new students: Put yourself out there. It is okay to get out of your comfort zone! That’s where you grow the most.
Interesting fact about me: When I was studying abroad in Rome, I was deported due to the pandemic
Year: Junior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Kalona, Iowa
Hobbies: Reading, spending time with friends, shopping, being outside, getting good coffee and good food
Clubs and Organizations: IISE, American Cancer Society on Campus, Alpha Pi Mu
Favorite Memory at ISU: Playing intramurals and making new friends
Advice for new students: Make sure to have fun! School can be stressful, but staying balanced with time for yourself makes the biggest difference.
Fun fact about me: I have a twin sister, but we are completely different people.
Year: Junior
Major/Minor: Industrial Engineering with minors in General Business and Sustainability
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Hobbies: I’m currently working on starting up two businesses. One’s focused on worker safety and the other aims to increase student engagement in STEM.
Clubs: Engineers Without Borders, Innovation Fellows, Student Admission Representatives (STARS)
Favorite Memory at ISU: I was on top of a 10 person pyramid during Destination Iowa State!
Advice for new students: If you’re living in a residence hall, keep your door open. I met a lot of great people my first few weeks at ISU because people will just pop in to say hi!
Interesting fact about me: I’m going to Ghana for Engineers Without Borders over winter break.
Year: Sophomore
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Hobbies: Running, Playing Piano, Beach Volleyball, Eating Dessert
Clubs and Organizations: Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), Alpha Pi Mu (APM), Honors College
Favorite ISU Memory: Eating breakfast at Stomping Grounds in Ames
Advice for New Students: Don’t feel pressured to do everything, just try at least one club or activity when you get to college
Interesting Fact About Me: I’ve drank coffee every day since I was in middle school.
Year: Senior
Major: Industrial Engineering
Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota
Hobbies: Baseball, kayaking, cooking, reading, fishing, hiking, biking, weightlifting, running
Clubs and organizations: Air Force ROTC, Rochester Roadrunners Baseball
Favorite memory at ISU: Packing everything in one night after finals so I could leave for an internship in California the next day!
Advice for new students: There is no singular path to success nor happiness. You are the only person you have to live with for your entire life, so become who you want to be, not who others think you should be.
Interesting fact about me: I tried to hike the entire Grand Canyon (rim-to-rim-to-rim) in a single night . . . and failed.