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Women in Engineering, Melinda Kolm
March 5, 2012 — Women
in Engineering: Melinda Kolm
UW College of Engineering & Applied Science
by: Jonathan S Barrett
Prior to her arrival to the University of Wyoming, Melinda was co-valedictorian for Skyline High School in Longmont, CO. Now living in Laramie, the University has provided her with the opportunity to live "far enough away from home" while still being able to remain close to family. She enjoys the limited distractions and small-town life inherent to Laramie that is no longer present along the Colorado Front Range.
When asked her favorite aspect of the University of Wyoming's College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) student Melinda Kolm replied, "People hold the door for you for an exceptionally long period of time..." Originally from Longmont, CO, Melinda deviated from her original plan of studying international business in Switzerland to pursue her degree in Architectural Engineering at the University of Wyoming.
This is no surprise as engineering has run in her family's heritage. Both her father and her aunt are both CEAS Alumni graduating in Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering respectively. Melinda has now made her personal mark on the CEAS and has become an integral part of the college. She currently serves as a student representative for the planning committee for the new Energy Resources Building, Vice President of Banquets for Tau Beta Pi, and Secretary for Engineers Without Borders.
Melinda's first word of advice for student's entering the college is to learn the art of effective time management. She looks at this as the fundamental attribute of success for engineering students. Her second word of advice is to show up to class. She has found that if absent from class; textbooks are of little help while studying.
Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, she intends to continue at the CEAS and complete her graduate studies. She is currently working with Dr. Schmidt developing wind turbine tower design. She looks to the future to remain in the structures field and has a strong interest in forensic structural engineering.
