Hometown: Plainfield, Illinois

Current year: Senior

Amanda Lefebvre is president of Purdue Chi Epsilon.

Why I chose Purdue Civil Engineering

At first, I wasn't sure I wanted to come to Purdue. My mom is an alumna here and also has a civil engineering degree. So, of course, I wanted to do something different. But, after visiting the campus and experiencing first-hand what it's like here, I knew it was the right place for me.

I chose civil engineering because I wanted to pursue a degree where I can make an impact. Civil engineers shape the world and can improve the lives of those around us. On top of that, civil engineering is a such a diverse field that you can practically do anything you want through it.

Emphasis area

My emphasis area is in Structures. Career-wise, I want to do something both large and impactful that will be of great benefit to people. My dream is to one day see my name listed among those that were integral in building an impressive structure.

Amanda served as chapter president for Engineers Without Borders where her team traveled to Bolivia for a water distribution project.

Organization involvements

In my four years here, I have tried to be an active participant in several organizations. One of the organizations that is most near and dear to me is Engineers Without Borders where we traveled to Bolivia for a water distribution project. I served as its chapter president for a year-and-a-half and now I serve as an advisor for the group and as an Indiana state representative for Engineers Without Borders.

My other organization involvements include serving in Chi Epsilon, Chi Omega, and the Purdue Center for Career Opportunities. Additionally, I have served as an undergraduate researcher at the Robert L. and Terry L. Bowen Laboratory for Large-Scale Civil Engineering Research. I have also had three internships and will participate in a fourth over the summer.

After I graduate

After I graduate, I will pursue a Master's degree in civil engineering here at Purdue in the fall. A lot of the structural projects I want to be a part of are so complex that I believe a Master's degree is necessary to prepare me for what I eventually want to do in my career.

Amanda is set to graduate this spring and will pursue her Master's degree in Civil Engineering at Purdue in the fall.