The College of Engineering’s Micron Student Success Center is home to the COEN Ambassadors, a dedicated group of students who represent the vibrant and dedicated student body. These Ambassadors play a crucial role in showcasing the unique opportunities and experiences available to those pursuing one of the college’s nine undergraduate degrees.
Lucy Brown, a third year student in the Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering, is one of 13 ambassadors passionate about sharing her experiences with future students.
Question: Tell us a little bit about yourself. What are your hobbies and interests outside of college?
Lucy Brown: “Other than school, which takes up a large majority of time, I love to do many outdoor activities. I am a big skier and have skied for most of my life. My dad taught me everything I know about the sport. I also enjoy hiking, backpacking, and I dabble in some fly fishing. It is sometimes difficult to find time to do these activities during the school year so I often take long walks on the Greenbelt – I love any and all time spent outside. I also enjoy making art and using the creative side of my brain, such as crocheting or painting.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a COEN Ambassador representing Materials Science and Engineering?
LB: “One of the best parts about being an ambassador has been connecting with prospective students, faculty, and my fellow ambassadors. Even though each ambassador comes from different majors, they have been so friendly and very insightful on what their department brings to Boise State. Throughout this last year of being an ambassador I have learned a ton about COEN and its many resources that I didn’t know about prior. These connections also led me to join Phi Sigma Rho, an engineering/STEM sorority. Through Phi Sigma Rho I have found a great community of women in STEM. My experience as an ambassador has been an amazing opportunity for me to connect with COEN and Boise State.”
Q: What does a typical week look like as a COEN Ambassador?
LB: “A typical week for an ambassador includes giving tours of the engineering facilities/buildings (Engineering Innovation Studio, research labs, classrooms, etc.), attend COEN outreach events, and hosting office hours where I help out with tasks around the Micron Student Success Center or have meetings with current students to answer questions that they have about MSE.”
Q: Why did you choose to study Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State?
LB: “I actually chose to take my first MSE class on a whim after having a moment of self-realization that my previous major wasn’t fit for me. Halfway through taking the class, I knew that MSE was something that I wanted to pursue and I immediately switched my major. I decided to continue to study MSE because of its wide range of applications and how it plays a hand in almost every industry. As someone who loves science, I particularly enjoy how MSE is the bridge between engineering and science concepts (like chemistry and physics). I’m also fascinated by how things work – understanding the properties of materials at the atomic level and how they shape the world around us is something that I love to learn about.”
Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your learning about Materials Science and Engineering?
LB: “The most rewarding aspect that I have gained from studying MSE is applying my knowledge to the real world. It is always exciting to identify connections between what I’ve learned in class and everyday occurrences, such as why certain materials are used in outdoor gear or how our phone screens can be dropped yet not crack (as easily).”
Q: What advice would you give to incoming materials science and engineering students?
LB: “A huge piece of advice for incoming MSE students would be to form study groups in your classes! Some of the most beneficial learning instances throughout my time in college have been with my peers, bouncing ideas off of one another. Doing this can help your grade and also give you skills that you can apply to your future career. Materials science is highly interdisciplinary and may have collaborations with people from other fields (like electrical and mechanical engineering, chemistry, etc). Having good communication and teamwork skills will be incredibly valuable.”
Q: What are your career aspirations after graduation?
LB: “After graduation I hope to pursue a career that allows me to explore the chemistry side of materials science, whether that be in research or industry. I am particularly interested in how chemical and molecular properties influence material performance. While I am still considering my options of what I want to do after graduation, I am open to going to graduate school to further my learning.”
Q: What are some of the unique Boise State opportunities available to materials science and engineering students?
LB: “The Micron School of Materials Science and Engineering offers a ton of hands-on experience for students, whether that be working on faculty-led research projects or taking advantage of the department’s close ties with Micron and Idaho National Laboratory to secure a summer internship. Gaining these experiences allows you to apply your knowledge of topics learned in class to real-world situations and develop skills that can eventually be used in a job.”
Q: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how did you overcome them?
LB: “One of the biggest challenges that I have faced as an MSE student is difficult coursework. During my three years at Boise State, I have learned a lot about myself and my learning style. I came to the shocking realization that practice does make ‘perfect.’ For me to fully understand a concept, I must work with it repeatedly, which takes a lot of time. Using my resources outside of lectures has been, and continues to be, incredibly helpful for me. I find that I need to hear the same concept explained multiple times before I fully grasp it. Fortunately, Boise State and the College of Engineering offer great support systems for students, including learning assistants, tutoring centers, and professor/TA-led homework help sessions. Utilizing these outside resources has played a huge role in my academic success.”
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your future career?
LB: “I am looking forward to applying my materials science knowledge that I have learned throughout my time at Boise State towards my future job. Whether I end up conducting research or working in industry, I am excited to innovate materials that will impact the world around us. In addition to this, I look forward to continuing to grow my understanding of material processing, properties, and applications.”
Have questions about the Materials Science and Engineering program or what it’s like to be a COEN Ambassador? Visit the COEN Ambassador Program page or schedule a meeting with Lucy today.