From Student to Mentor: Olivia’s Journey in Engineering Education

Tiantian (“Olivia”) Li grew up near Beijing, China, in a family deeply rooted in STEM. As an only child, she was guided early on toward academic excellence, following the traditional path from undergraduate studies all the way to a PhD. Her journey in engineering began with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Engineering at Purdue University, where she navigated a rigorous curriculum and discovered her passion for understanding how students learn.

Despite early challenges with traditional lectures and exams, Olivia found her stride through teaching and mentorship. Over seven semesters, she served as an undergraduate teaching assistant and peer teacher, supporting first-year students and gaining hands-on experience that would shape her approach to education. Her curiosity about student learning led her to volunteer in Dr. Allison Goldwin’s research project, where she explored engineering identity through qualitative research—an experience she describes as “pleasantly surprising” and deeply rewarding.

Olivia’s research focused on how students develop systems thinking competencies, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. She has contributed to five funded research projects, including the development of tools to measure students’ opportunities to practice professional skills. Beyond research, she has mentored peers, completed a teaching apprenticeship for Purdue’s FYE course, and built a network of support spanning mentors, advisors, and peers.

Reflecting on her PhD journey, Olivia emphasizes the value of community and the uniqueness of each path: “Every PhD journey is unique, and the field of engineering education is even more so because it’s relatively new and interdisciplinary. Don’t compare yourself to others; focus on your own growth.”

Olivia successfully defended her dissertation in August 2025. She has begun her journey as an assistant professor in the engineering pathways program at the University of Oklahoma, eager to inspire and support the next generation of engineers—just as she was inspired along the way.