Breadcrumb
Environmental Resources Engineering, B.S. | Class of
Denise McKahn (McKay)
Associate Professor
Employer: Smith College
Job description: I teach energy related topics to engineering students at the first ABET accredited engineering program for women. Additionally, I serve as the Faculty Director for the Center for the Environment, Ecological Design and Sustainability
About Denise
Why did you choose this program?
At the age of 17, I was good at math and cared about the environment. That was about as much as I knew about who I was and how I might use my time to good ends. At the time, there were only two environmental engineering programs in the CSU or UC system that were stand-alone and not housed in civil programs. I wanted to be fully immersed in an institutional setting that deeply valued environmental resources and I wanted to work with people who saw themselves as effective stewards of those resources. I had no interest in shiny brochures. I wanted to get my hands wet and solve real problems.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
The ERE program at HSU prepares engineers to be well rounded with both breadth across engineering disciplines and depth within an area of interest. As a faculty member, I have often reflected on the structure and composition of the ERE program and still marvel at the opportunities I had as an undergraduate student.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I deeply enjoyed the opportunities I had to engage with faculty research. I worked on a range of projects, starting with fish migration through culverts. I then transitioned in to the Schatz Energy Research Center and had far more autonomy to design and innovate than at just about any other place in the country. I felt like a part of something deeply impactful and worked with some pretty amazing people.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
For prospective students, if you've come this far, just do it. Follow your heart and string together the reality that makes sense to you. It is when we strike our own path that giant boulders seem like mere pebbles! The ERE program at HSU is incredible. You will gain the tools you need to identify the ways in which you can have meaningful impact in shaping a better world. I don't say that lightly.