Danielle DaSilva
	2011
	Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering
	Applying to Healthcare Administration graduate school programs to begin Fall 2012

What do you do in your current position? I am looking to earn a Masters degree in Health Administration in order to apply engineering problem solving practices to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. Following my internship with GE Healthcare's Performance Solutions, their healthcare consulting group, I was especially interested in applying my engineering education and interest in process improvement to the healthcare setting. I look forward to learning more about health policy, financials, and strategic planning.

How has your PSU engineering education/experiences helped to get you where you are today? Penn State's College of Engineering provided me with an incredibly well rounded education and the skills to be a World Class Engineer. Between working on group design projects from my first semester on campus, to the leadership opportunities I was able to take advantage of, I had the chance to work in teams, solve problems and have an impact on the community. Through my education and leadership experiences I was able to have three summer corporate internships in two different industries. If it wasn't for my 3 internships and multiple design projects, I definitely would not have had so many experience to share and options to choose from upon graduation.

How has your experience as an EA impacted your professional life so far? Engineering Ambassadors provided me with numerous speaking opportunities in a variety of settings, which allowed me to gain significant confidence. This helped me during my internship, where I was excited to craft and deliver my midterm and final presentations to the General Manager of my business, while other interns dreaded the task. In addition, having the opportunity to travel internationally to Norway as an undergraduate and begin to understand how to work with other cultures was incredibly remarkable.This skill of presenting by myself and with others and in different cultures is something that will be helpful in all aspects of my future.

In addition, EA provided me with a network of incredibly motivated, successful individuals within the College of Engineering that I remain in contact with both professionally and socially. By staying in contact with these individuals I have been able to hear the good and the bad of different career and professional opportunities. Overall, the relationships from this network will continue to serve as an incredible resource for many years to come.