Alysha Helmrich realized her future career as a college professor thanks to the EEE community
The EEE combined degree program allows undergraduate students to earn both a bachelor’s degree (BSEEE) and a non-thesis master’s degree (MSEEE) within five academic years.
“The extra year was exactly what I needed to realize my desire to pursue a PhD!” Alysha shares, “I was fortunate to have teaching, research, and service experiences during my ‘+1’ year, which provided a helpful glimpse into the workload balance of a professor.”
Following her time at Purdue, Alysha went on to earn a Ph.D. in Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering from Arizona State University. Today, she is an assistant professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. Her current research builds upon her EEE foundation, focusing on examining cities as social-ecological-technological systems to develop more resilient infrastructure solutions.
Purdue EEE’s program equipped Alysha with critical thinking, problem-solving, and systems thinking skills – tools that she found broadly applicable throughout her continued education.
“EEE exposed me to ‘wicked’ problems and holistic systems thinking, which prepared me to study urban resilience during my PhD. Many of my peers did not have the same exposure to these topics at the undergraduate level,” Alysha says. “If I had not learned about them early in my academic career, I might not have pursued my graduate studies.”
To date, Alysha has published 16 peer-reviewed articles and secured research funding from agencies such as USACE, NOAA, and the EPA. She was also part of a team honored with the Ecological Society of America’s Science Communication in Practice Award for their podcast, Resilient Futures (previously Future Cities), and now leads the monthly podcast with her co-host, Dr. Todd Bridges.
Her advice to students?
“The fields of sustainability and resilience – particularly in terms of our built environment – are changing so rapidly. There are so many diverse career opportunities and so many opportunities to get involved in a space you are passionate about! Use your time at Purdue and within EEE to help identify what that space may be. College and internships are the perfect safe space for this exploration.”
Alysha visiting Rocky Mountain National Park in June 2023. “On the life side of the work-life balance, I enjoy reading – I co-host a hobby podcast with two other Purdue graduates about books we’ve read. I also enjoy hiking, traveling, and music.”
