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From broomball tournaments to local industry tours, UD’s student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) provides networking, mentoring, professional development, and outreach opportunities.
Photos courtesy of UD AIChE | Photo illustration by Joey Smoker
December 21, 2022
UD’s student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) provides networking, mentoring, professional development, and outreach opportunities.
On a chilly Wednesday evening just before Thanksgiving break, mechanical and chemical engineering students at the University of Delaware convened at the Fred Rust Ice Arena to play broomball. The event brought together 40 students who hopped on the ice for a little friendly competition and to let off some steam before the end of the fall semester.
Hosting this and many other activities throughout the year is UD’s chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE). Not only is the student chapter of this professional organization a place for socializing, networking, and community engagement, UD AIChE also fosters a sense of community for students in this top-ranked chemical engineering graduate program.
The goal of UD AIChE is to provide networking, mentorship, professional development, and outreach opportunities to students in the College of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering during their undergraduate careers.
Each month, approximately 80 chemical engineering students gather during the UD AIChE general assembly, which includes talks from industry representatives that include Merck, Evonik, ExxonMobil and Ingredion this fall. The group also organizes professional development and networking events, group study halls, faculty breakfasts, graduate student panels, and local industry tours, which have grown in popularity this year now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted.
UD AIChE’s Advisory Council from 2021, including last year’s Treasurer and President Aaron Lamm, Jackson Burns, Sean Wirt (back row), and Lydia Kowalski, Katie Grabowski, Rebecca Beswick (front row) as well as last year’s Broomball With students watching the tournament (right).
UD AIChE is entirely student-led, with two presidents, seniors Lydia Kowalski and Katie Grabowski, who respectively oversee the internal and external aspects of the group’s activities. Junior John DeHas is the UD AIChE Treasurer and Junior Rachel Dick is the group’s secretary.
One advantage of the group’s committee structure, Kowalski explained, is that students can become involved in planning and coordinating activities early in their undergraduate careers, diving into the group’s activities in public relations, community outreach, recruiting, professional development or academics. opportunities as they arise.
Along with its professional development goals, AIChE is also “a social place for chemical engineers to come together,” Graboski said. This fall, the group has hosted a social activity nearly each week, including an October trip to Millburn Orchards, a Halloween movie night and costume contest, and a first-year student welcome night.
building community and building relationships
Beyond its goals of being a professional and social space, another important thing UD AICHE does, said Joshua Anzer, associate professor and UD AICHE faculty advisor, is help build a sense of community in the department.
Through the fall of 2022, UD AIChE hosts approximately one social activity each week, including an October trip to Millburn Orchards (pictured here), a Halloween movie night and costume contest, and first-year student welcome nights.
“AICHE is a key tool for helping us students find each other and develop that chemical engineering identity,” Enzer said, adding that it will help achieve objectives such as retention, success and persistence. does. “The community that students build is one of the most attractive things about our program, and with AICHE, not only do you get the chance to interact with your peers outside of the classroom, but you also get to See what other years are doing and interact with them. ,
This community is part of what attracted junior Tiffany Jung to UD in the first place. Jung, who is now chairman of the recruiting committee and helps coordinate department tours for UD’s Blue and Gold days, said, “It’s a very connected major, and AICHE, which they run With all the shows, helps you get more connected.” She said that finding student volunteers to lead tours is usually an easy task because “people usually love to talk about the department and they love the culture of the department.”
Another way that UD helps build the AIChE community is through the group’s mentorship program. Formerly organized by Recruiting, Engaging, Advancing Chemical Engineers (REACH), these activities were incorporated into AIChE in 2020. Year round About a quarter are involved in the chemical engineering undergraduate program, either as mentors or mentors.
Along with social events (left) and professional development activities, UD AIChE also participates in the annual convention (right) of the Alumni Society.
“Mentoring helps guide students and reduces impostor syndrome by letting them know that people from similar backgrounds have been successful,” said senior Rebecca Beswick, chair of AIChE’s academic committee. “I have had countless mentors who have shaped my ideas about chemical engineering and set me up for success, and I believe mentorship is one of the most important parts of ensuring that as many May as many students be happy and successful.”
“AIChE’s community and mentorship program really helps students learn about potential career paths in chemical engineering,” Kowalski said. By interacting with upperclassmen and industry professionals, AIChE provides a wealth of opportunities for graduate students. The latter covers a wide range of opportunities, whether it be a traditional industry role, graduate school, and even consulting or law school. Many students find AICHE’s community helpful in discovering exactly what Which path is right for them.
UD AIChE members look forward to a repeat of the 2023 Spring Semester events, including T-shirt tie-dying, a Super Smash Bros. contest, a volleyball tournament, and the possibility of a soccer tournament this spring.
Beswick, who was recently awarded the Donald F. and was recognized for her efforts in starting the mentorship program with the Mildred Top Othmer Scholarship Award, said one of the things she loves most about the group is connecting with students in other years. Chemical Engineering program as well as listening and sharing advice.
“AICHE allows chemical engineering graduates to build relationships with both their peers and professionals,” she said. “Building this network at any point in your undergraduate career gives you a huge stepping stone on your future opportunities.”
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