Kelly Nykodym - College of Engineering - Purdue University

Undergraduate Institution: University of California at Santa Barbara

Graduate Institution: American University, School of International Service

Current Occupation/Sector: National Lab

What led you to pursue your current career sector? I was drawn to my field after seeing how effective leadership and employee engagement directly impacts team performance and culture - leading to more happiness at work.

If you could give one piece of advice to graduate students exploring career options, what would it be? Notice what energizes you, not just what you excel at. Be clear on your values and be willing to experiment as you explore where you want to have impact.