Denae Galloway

Denae Galloway knew that engineering had … something to do with putting things together. And she knew she wanted to pursue it as a career. But what was she going to do? Galloway wasn’t sure where to start.

Enter ENGR 13100 (Transforming Ideas into Innovation I) and a thorough rundown of all the majors available for an engineering-minded student. Electrical engineering caught Galloway’s attention — partly because power electronics were fascinating, partly because her mother pursued the discipline — and she made the jump, not only transitioning into the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) but becoming an ECE ambassador and a leader in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Society (ECESS).

Galloway’s intentional involvement within her discipline was part of why she was recognized as an Engineering Fellow in 2022. And she encourages engineering students to start building from the beginning of their Purdue education.

“There’s endless opportunities that can come from your network and you’ll never know where it can lead until you put yourself out there,” said Galloway.

Nominations for the Class of 2027 cohort of Fellows are open until July 3, 2026. Candidates for the Engineering Fellows are considered outstanding academically, professionally and socially. The criteria include creativity, problem-solving and respect of their peers. Nomination letters should address these criteria with specific, concrete examples that demonstrate how the student stands apart from other high-achieving peers rather than general descriptions of excellence.

Galloway’s excellence shone through most especially as an ECE ambassador. Tours and events allowed her to connect with alums, students and peers who shared their stories with her — excitement about Purdue, inspiration to pursue engineering or support for a child interested in the discipline. The experience also worked well with her minor in organizational leadership and her presidency of ECESS in the 2022-23 academic year.

“Purdue taught me to have a strong appreciation for diverse perspectives and to strive for a certain level of grit and determination in everything I do,” said Galloway, from Orland Park, Illinois. “I use this every day in my professional life. My current role is highly cross-functional, and working in manufacturing is a fast-paced environment where I am constantly problem solving and collaborating with a variety of people.”

Her dedication to openness and reliability have made Galloway an asset to her current employer, GE Vernova. As a source of information and a comfortable guide, Galloway takes the onus of creating comfortable environments upon herself. Every person teaches her something, Galloway shared — often things she didn’t know she needed to know.

The authenticity Galloway emulates in her work relationships is something she recommends Purdue engineering students — especially Fellows-minded ones — cultivate early and show off in their nominations: “Remain authentic to themselves. You don’t want to put on an act and be someone you’re not. Being true to yourself will always go far.”

This theme followed Galloway through power plant controls internships with GE. After two summers with the company, Galloway returned after graduation as part of GE’s Operations Management Leadership Program. The unique work experiences she gained through the four six-month long rotations taught Galloway the ins and outs of manufacturing and supply chain processes, issues and implemented solutions. She credited several “amazing individuals” with enlightening her throughout the experiences.

She’s now a services production leader with a team and a vision. And, thanks to the generosity of the Engineering Fellows reward she saved, the funds to back up whatever she may want to do next.

“My time with GE Vernova has been full of growth,” Galloway said. “In my current role, I’ve been able to take all of my learning from both college and the leadership program to expand my knowledge and lead even without any official direct report.”

Galloway hopes to connect with Purdue as a mentor or a leader, able to offer advice and insights into the professional world to students who are wondering what exactly engineers do, just like she did.

“As a professional, I’ve learned that engineering is a mindset. It’s not only learning how things or systems work but also learning how to problem-solve and work collaboratively.”

Nominations for the ninth cohort of Purdue Engineering Fellows are open until July 3, 2026. Faculty, staff and peers who are looking to nominate a student must include a copy of the selected student’s resume and letters of support, submitted as a packet online. Full-time students who are graduating in May 2027 are eligible to be recognized as a Fellow.