Daniella Rivera leaves mark on College of Engineering

Over 40,000 students are currently enrolled in Utah State University’s mechanical engineering program, according to the Office of Analysis, Assessment and Accreditation, ushering in a new wave of aspiring engineers. Daniella Rivera, a fourth-year student studying mechanical engineering, is one of them.  

Rivera started at USU in 2019, ready for a new environment like many incoming college students. 

“Coming to college was a big change,” Rivera said. “I didn’t realize how much or how little time I would have to be social. I’ve had some great memories, and Logan has such a beautiful campus with beautiful scenery.”  

Compelled by a knack for math and a love for problem solving, Rivera chose to study mechanical engineering.  

“I love challenges,” Rivera said. “I was pretty good at math, and my mom always joked that I had to become a doctor, engineer or a lawyer because my parents didn’t go to college. I felt like it was up my route.” 

Often, inspiration strikes from family, friends or one-off experiences. For Rivera, a childhood memory played a huge role in her career pursuit.  

“I had a friend’s dad who came to our fourth-grade class to talk about being a NASA engineer,” Riviera said. “That really inspired me. My parents have been very strong-willed and have always been around for me. I have inspiring parents who have always been there to encourage me to do harder things.”  

In Rivera’s first few years at USU, she grappled with her identity when it came to being in STEM.  

“At first, I actually did not want to identify as an engineer,” Rivera said. “But I was still doing it, and I was still passionate about engineering. Then I realized how lonely it is to not have a community, especially with how rigorous this major is, so I got involved with the Society of Women Engineers.” 

Founded in 1950, the SWE aims to empower, enrich and recognize the achievements of women working as engineers in the male-dominated industry.  

According to Zippia.com, a staggering 86.3% of all engineers are men, while 13.7% are women. Furthermore, 67.9% are white – minority groups occupy less than half of these occupations.  

The SWE, on top of empowering its members, conducts its own research and lobbying in an attempt to alter these trends and seek equity for women engineers.  

Utah is one of two states with the smallest percentage of female engineers, at only 9% according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The work done by SWE at USU is critical in involving more women in this field.

Rivera served as the vice president of outreach for the SWE and later went on to become president. In these positions, Rivera worked with K-12 students to embrace their inner engineer and help them explore STEM fields.  

“I found a passion in inspiring kids who came from similar backgrounds as me and who are also minorities in the field,” Riviera said. “It’s been great to have a community of inspiring, powerful women who know their place in the STEM fields.”    

Associate professor Elizabeth Vargis is the faculty adviser for the SWE chapter at USU.  

“The SWE is highly active in this university,” Vargis said. “We do tables at every Science Unwrapped. We’re active at STEM fairs at local, elementary, middle and high schools.”  

As the elected vice president of outreach, Rivera coordinated many of these efforts.  

“Daniella is an outstanding person — a fantastic leader,” Vargis said. “As the VP of outreach, she looked into areas of Utah that are under-served. She started this event where we go down to the Blanding area to serve all the elementary schools.”  

Rivera’s approach to mentorship stuck out to Vargis as uniquely inspiring.  

“I’m an Indian immigrant. In my mind I’m thinking, ‘These college-educated kids are going to go teach engineering in the way they think it should be,’” Vargis said. “I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Daniella taught people that they’re already engineers. She’s using activities and motivations that really resonate with that community.”  

Rivera’s perspective on engineering education focuses on what’s relevant today and what’s accessible to people from all backgrounds.  

“Daniella decided that we were not going to talk about the old German scientist who made these theories 200 years ago,” Vargis said. “We’re going to talk about current Native people looking at stars and studying different medicines. It’s all within this context that’s way more relatable.”  

Innovation, ambition and drive are all qualities the SWE hopes to see from its members, and Vargis saw these same traits in Rivera.  

“She took on this thing that nobody told her to do. She saw a need that she felt was important and decided she was going to do it right,” Vargis said.  

After college, Rivera plans to spend some time exploring other interests: mentorship and art.  

“I’m taking some time off, and I’ll actually be working as an art teacher,” Rivera said. “It’s kind of a passion project thing. I think everyone should take a break after working really hard in school.”  

Rivera will also work as a flight test engineer.  

“I’m going to be working with commercial airplanes,” Rivera said. “I’ll be flying on airplanes to ensure they’re following safety standards, are produced and sent to airlines so the community can fly on them.”  

According to Vargis, engineering provides knowledge necessary to a variety of different issues. 

“Engineering gives you a different framework that is necessary to work with all the other people involved in big problems,” Vargis said. “Problems like, ‘How do we deal with the Great Salt Lake? How do we deal with years of drought?’ There’s engineers making the tools and solving the actual problem.”  

Vargis said it’s more a student’s curiosity and investment in the science that makes a great engineer, rather than skill level.  

Because engineering lacks female representation, Vargis encourages any aspiring students to try their hand at engineering and follow in the footsteps of graduates like Rivera. 

“If the male-domination bothers you, then think about me — come to engineering so I don’t have to be in a male-dominated world,” Vargis said.

Rivera advises that regardless of major or department, community is at the heart of making it to graduation.  

“Find your community, find people to support you,” Rivera said. “It makes it a lot easier for you to feel welcomed in the space that you are trying to enter.”    

One of the most valuable lessons Rivera learned in her time as a student is accepting change. 

“Growing up, you’re around the same family and friends all the time, in the same high school and the same city,” Rivera said. “College is the first time that dynamic changes. Find community; be OK with new people entering your life but also with letting some of them go.”  

There are many different expectations incoming students can have about college, and Rivera advises them to manage these expectations.  

“When entering college, think that it’s going to be harder rather than thinking it’s going to be easier,” Rivera said. “Don’t come into it thinking it’s going to be a breeze.”  

At the other end of four years, Vargis advises postgraduates to follow their passion at any stage in life, even if those passions change.  

“Nothing you choose has to be permanent,” Vargis said. “I know it’ll seem like it’s a big deal if you spent two years on something and you want to switch, but I guarantee that in the long term, those two years are not comparable to the rest of your life. It will be OK; you’ll be OK.”