Tears of joy streamed down Carlyse Wallace’s face when she learned she was accepted into Purdue’s Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program in November 2021.
“It was a dream come true for me,” she said.

I began Purdue’s MEM program after finishing my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. I knew from the start that Purdue MEM would present me with opportunities that would excel my professional career. What I did not know was how soon, and how exciting, some of those opportunities would be.

Alexandra McGrail, Andrew Ravi Kamalraj, Akriti Srivastava and Diva Sharma weaved through stacks of empty pink and white flour sacks. Nearby, vibrant orange and black machines hummed as they blended life-saving nutrients into maize flour.

My undergraduate in mechanical engineering made me very capable at using the tools of a design engineer, but Purdue’s MEM Program has built my understanding of how to adapt these tools to new types of problems while showing me the power of thinking with greater technical depth and a broader perspective.

I joined the MEM Program at Purdue University with a Bachelor of Mechanical and Production Engineering from Germany. I had previous industry experience in the German Space Sector, and wanted to extend my knowledge for my future career with Purdue MEM.

If there is one word that can describe my endeavors in life, it would be curiosity.

As a U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Officer, we are charged with the planning, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of all Navy and Marine Corps shore facilities worldwide.

I started my MEM journey, after graduating from Purdue’s Materials Science Engineering undergrad program, knowing just two things: 1) I want to have a career where I can make an impact, and 2) I want to work on new things.

When I started the MEM program, I knew that I wanted to build a career in Data Science.

Growing up, I was the kid who could name the make and model of every aircraft that flew overhead, achieved thousands of flight hours on Microsoft Flight Simulator X, spent the weekends flying in general aviation aircraft, and ultimately based his life around aviation.