When Adrienne Shea, a 2021 mechanical engineering graduate, first attempted college, her studies never really took off. IUPUC helped her discover her dual passions of engineering and chemistry. Now, she is headed for a prestigious doctoral program with ties to NASA.
“My first attempt at college was a disaster,” recalled Shea. “I took education for granted. I didn't go to class because I always figured I could deal with it later. I did it because my parents told me to, not because I wanted to be there.”
Shea left school for marriage and motherhood. Her academic career appeared to be over.
“I worked lots of menial jobs and worked 60-plus hours a week to barely get by. I knew it wasn't sustainable, but I also didn't know what to do,” Shea said.
At age 33, Shea’s career prospects were slim, her marriage had ended, she was expecting her second child, and she had moved back in with her parents.
It was then, in the most difficult of days, that Shea took command of her life.
“I knew I had to do something big to make sure those two children had every opportunity in the world, so I re-enrolled in school,” Shea said.
In 2018, after 12 years away from Indiana University, Shea entered the Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree program at IUPUC. The program offers a prestigious Purdue mechanical engineering degree through IUPUI’s Purdue School of Engineering and Technology. Students can complete the entire mechanical engineering degree in Columbus.
From her early days at IUPUC, Shea discovered she had a passion for both engineering and chemistry.
“I was offered a research position in both the chemistry and engineering labs, but the chemistry lab changed everything for me and sparked an interest I had no idea I had,” Shea explained. “It seemed like the more I learned, the more I wanted to know.”
Dr. J.D. Mendez, Chair of the IUPUC Division of Science, was one of Shea’s chief mentors on campus. He remembered, “Adrienne was always interested in trying new approaches and devising new things to test. Most of the time this was a great thing,” Mendez recalled. He said that sometimes, curiosity has its physical limitations. “There was one time that she somehow made a crystal she was growing explode. This is not an exaggeration, a crystal actually exploded.”
Shea declared a chemistry minor, in addition to the math minor that is already built into the mechanical engineering degree plan. “I did not want to abandon my mechanical engineering degree, so I looked for a way to merge the two, which is how I landed on chemical engineering,” Shea noted.
With the help of Dr. J.D. Mendez, Shea and her classmate, Nicole Bodi, applied for a grant with the Office of Student Research (OSR). Their project used 3D printing to produce crystalline and lattice structures. They traveled to Orlando, Florida, to present their research at the American Chemical Society National Conference.
Shea received a total of three OSR grants in her time at IUPUC, along with building an impressive resume of academic accomplishments. She has been on the Dean’s List every one of her semesters at IUPUC, she has been awarded numerous scholarships, and she was named both Calculus and Chemistry Student of the Year. She also founded the STEM Club, served as an Early Start Mentor, and worked as a tutor for the Academic Resource Center (ARC). In these endeavors, she credited faculty member Dr. Anna Carmon and Student Success Coordinator Matt Rothrock for supporting her every step of the way.
Rothrock asserted that, among nearly 100 student workers that he has hired as tutors, Shea is among the top 10.
Said Rothrock, “I’ve had brilliant tutors who’ve struggled to reach others and had to be mentored and continually monitored, but Adrienne hit the ground running and never looked back. Simply put, there will be no replacing Adrienne Shea.”
Anna Carmon, Program Director, Communication Studies, said, “Adrienne values the importance of strong female role models in her life and, therefore, seeks to be that role model for others.” Carmon continued, “Adrienne demonstrates incredible patience and grace with students who are often frustrated and at the end of their tether, particularly in this bizarre era of COVID-19. Adrienne, while being able to provide tough love when necessary, is very much a natural nurturer who wants our students to succeed.”
Shea’s interpersonal talents come from being able to relate to students’ struggles. For her, life was a balancing act during her years at IUPUC. Childcare for daughter Ava and son Sam sometimes fell through, and when it did, her professors rallied to support her.
Shea said, “The professors have been absolutely amazing with letting me bring children to class. I could never have expected that at a big campus. It truly takes a village, and I could never have imagined the support I received from these mentors. I hope to offer the same inspiration to other students someday.”
Shea’s academic career, once uncertain, is now soaring to new heights. Shea is headed for the University of Idaho, where she was accepted to the PhD in Chemical Engineering program. She is currently writing a fellowship proposal for the NASA Idaho Space Consortium.
“The project I will be working on I find pretty exciting,” Shea said. “Bacteria causes major problems for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) and is much more antibiotic resistant. Since there is no gravity they use handlebars to pull themselves around. Keeping those sterile is a problem since everyone touches them all day long,” Shea explained.
Shea will be analyzing samples taken from the ISS, and will test polymers to see which one is best for the task.
Shea said, “This sounds simple but there is a ton that goes into it and different angles will take years. The hope is I will then send the next test to the ISS after completing my testing and optimization. I am of course very, very excited.”
Dr. Julie Mendez, IUPUC Mechanical Engineering Program Director, is herself a chemical engineer and predicts that Shea will find success in her doctoral studies.
“Adrienne has excelled in the mechanical engineering program,” Mendez noted. “With her problem-solving and leadership skills, she will succeed in graduate school and beyond.”
In addition to faculty support, Shea also credits the small class and lab sizes at IUPUC for helping her launch into this next phase of her life and career.
“IUPUC offers an opportunity that big campuses don't,” Shea pointed out. “You have the ability here to get to know faculty on a personal level instead of getting lost in a sea of lectures with hundreds of people in them.”
Shea added, “Dr. J.D. Mendez's influence completely changed the direction of my education and career. I cannot say enough about the inspiration I found watching him teach. Andrea Gillett has taught me a genuine love for math and teaching and has also been there for everything else. I truly hope to be a strong female inspiration in academia like her someday.”
Gillett, IUPUC Mathematics Coordinator, has equally high regard for Shea. She recommended to Shea that she become a tutor after observing not only her exceptional grasp of mathematical concepts, but her eagerness to help other students.
“I knew she would be a positive role model for the students who were struggling not only academically, but also with the transition to college,” Gillett recounted. “This also made her an ideal mentor for the Early Start program. I continue to be impressed with her time management skills and am so proud of how she took control of her life. She is a true wonder woman!”
Shea also said she has made friendships at IUPUC that she has no doubt will last a lifetime.
“The sense of community has been unrivaled.”
Dr. Carmon said Shea exemplifies IUPUC’s supportive culture. “Adrienne’s work as a tutor and Early Start mentor demonstrate how focused IUPUC is on helping and caring for their students, both personally and professionally.”
When looking back on her own journey and its many challenges, Shea has some advice for future IUPUC students. “There is always someone else in the same place you are and it's a whole lot less lonely when you have others to go through this with. There will absolutely be days that you feel like you can't do it. It's okay. You can do it and you will be a better person for it.”