Outstanding Graduate + Impact Award, Fall 2023
Nicole Mulvey
Nicole Mulvey changed her major three times at Arizona State University before finding her place in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU in electrical engineering. She got hooked on the field and stuck with the program after taking circuits and intro to engineering courses.
“There are so many paths in electrical engineering one can take to really find what they enjoy,” Mulvey says.
Mulvey names becoming director of outreach for ASU’s student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers as her biggest accomplishment during her time as an undergraduate student. The position enabled Mulvey to set up events to bring ASU women engineering students together, network and form closer bonds.
Mulvey also worked as a lead tutor for the Fulton Schools, a role that allowed her to assist many students and realize her love of helping others.
She also took on internships that allowed her to explore what her future could look like.
“Interning at both Texas Instruments and General Motors changed my life,” Mulvey says. “It allowed me to experience what kind of careers electrical engineering students can have, and I was able to learn so much about car manufacturing and the semiconductor industry.”
She also says electrical engineering faculty members were highly impactful on her education. Mulvey names Professor Chaitali Chakrabarti and Faculty Associate Seth Abraham as instrumental in building her confidence and encouraging her along the path to becoming an electrical engineer.
“Dr. Abraham taught me that if I put my mind to any problem and take a breath and three steps back, I can solve it,” Mulvey says. “Dr. Chakrabarti played a pivotal role in instilling self-confidence in me and emphasizing the importance of extracting valuable lessons from experiences.”
After graduation, she first plans to take a break from academics by traveling in the spring, then taking an internship in the summer. Mulvey plans to continue her education next fall after she is accepted to a computer engineering master’s degree program.
In the future, she plans to become a computer architecture engineer or an engineering manager.
“I really want to work on products and be able to lead people, as I love being able to help others every day,” Mulvey says. “In the future, I’d also like to bring more Hispanic women into electrical and computer engineering.”
Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ Fall 2023 class here.