Ciara Powell

Ciara Powell joined the industrial engineering program at Arizona State University to take her career to the next level.

“I previously earned a degree in public health, and while I love working in the health care field, I felt there was more I could be doing,” Powell says. “With an industrial engineering degree, I can have an even greater impact and go in any direction I want.”

Powell is receiving her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU. She has been named an Outstanding Graduate for her exceptional scholarship.

In addition to her degree, Powell has also earned her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, a program that demonstrates specialized knowledge in process improvement and problem-solving.

While earning her degree and continuing to work full-time in a health care role, Powell completed several internships, assisting on construction projects at multiple new semiconductor fabrication facilities in development in the Phoenix metropolitan area. She completed a related capstone project in her final semesters before graduation.

Powell also served as an undergraduate teaching assistant, working with Daniel McCarville, a Fulton Schools professor of practice. But her main focus was preparing for her future.

“I spent my time learning as much as possible about an incredibly interesting new career and making wonderful friends who are passionate about the same topics I am,” she says.

Powell is looking forward to applying her passion for problem-solving to her new career. After graduation, she plans to relocate and assume a full-time industrial engineering role.

“I would like to say that I will make a positive impact wherever I end up, leaving everywhere better than how I found it using the techniques and skills I learned here at ASU,” she says.

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.