Isabel Schinella

“I wanted to learn how the world worked and why things function the way they do,” says Isabel Schinella, explaining why she chose to study mechanical engineering.

As she got started with her studies in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, Schinella didn’t know how vast her options would be. She also wasn’t quite set on her passions until she started working on complex engineering projects.

“When I realized I actually enjoyed working out thermodynamics problems and it wasn’t just an assignment I had to get done, it was when I knew I was on the right track,” she says.

Schinella worked on several interesting projects, including conducting experiments about the mechanical behavior of silicon solar cell modules in Professor Mariana Bertoni’s lab and designing various components for diesel engine systems as a propulsion systems engineer intern at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

She also worked as a teaching assistant for former Fulton Schools faculty member Masoud Yekani Fard in the MAE 213 Mechanics of Materials course and collaborated with Assistant Teaching Professor Joshua Wilbur to grade students’ work for MAE 241 Intro to Thermodynamics course.

Schinella says teaching her fellow students was the most satisfying experience of her academic career.

“I really enjoyed working with students and explaining difficult concepts to them because it solidified my understanding of the fundamentals of engineering,” Schinella says.

She also emphasizes how grateful she is for the support from her teachers and colleagues.

“I am extremely thankful to Professor Joshua Wilbur for always being available for his students, and wanting to see them succeed not only in class but in their career as well,” Schinella says.

While she is still participating in the Accelerated Master’s degree program in mechanical engineering at ASU, Schinella hopes to move to Long Island, New York or San Diego, California, in the future.

Her experience at ASU helped her make great friends and realize she could do much more than she thought possible.

“Engineering has made me realize that I’m capable of not only understanding challenging concepts, but using them to build and design work that matters to myself and others,” Schinella says. “I now have a solidified mindset of doing anything I feel passionate about, and I feel like I’m equipped with the tools I need to make our world a better place.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ fall 2024 class here.