Name: Madeline Iffert

 

Hometown: Wayne, PA

 

High School: Villa Maria Academy

 

Activities Outside of WEPO: On My Honor Campus Girl Scouts, Ballroom Dance, SWE

 

Internship/Co-Op Experience: GE Transportation in Erie, PA interning as an Engineering Compliance Associate in summer 2013

 

Why did you choose to come to Penn State? The Women in Engineering Program is the reason I chose Penn State. The program is so well developed, much more than any other college I looked at. All the resources and extra help available to us enables me to get ahead of my peers and always have a way to stay on the right track with my education and career. Another important reason I chose Penn State is because of the amazing school spirit and energy that can be felt anywhere. Our students LOVE their school and it is evident at any event from THON to football games to walking to class and WE ARE-ing a tour group. I love being part of that spirit.

 

What has been your best memory as an engineering student? I had Dr. Cliff Lissenden as my Statics/Strengths of Materials professor last year. He is a very quiet and chill kind of man and doesn't crack a lot of jokes in class. One day he got this smiley look on his face and said he had a joke for us. He did a perfect job setting up the joke about a fire in a hotel room with a scientist, mathematician, and an engineer. When he got to the punch line, our entire class died laughing because it was a funny, nerdy, well-executed joke but it was even funnier coming from Dr. Lissenden since it was very out of character for him.

You had to be there. I can't think of other good ones under pressure.

 

What has been your best memory as a Penn State student? There are too many to choose from, but here is one: Sleeping on the floor of Pegula waiting to get into THON! I was with a bunch of my friends and it was a wonderful break from the freezing cold. It was also my first time being in the gorgeous new arena!

 

What advice would you give a first-year engineer? Don't let what other people think affect you too much. I know it's cliche, but do your thing and don't worry about what other people say. If you love your major and your classes, don't let the haters make you change your mind! Do what makes YOU happy :)

 

Give me one fun fact about yourself. I really like brushing my teeth.

 

 

Madeline is a junior studying Industrial Engineering.