Peer Advisors
The Peer Advisor program is a resource for all undergraduates in the College of Engineering. Peer Advisors are seniors from all of the majors who offer tailored guidance and advice to students throughout their time at the College - as they progress through coursework, seek involvement and leadership opportunities, and search for internship, co-op, and post-graduation opportunities.
The Peer Advisors work closely with the Engineering Student Success Team staff members in order to provide accurate information and advice about majors, course selections, general education courses, elective focus area (EFA) decisions, and policies and procedures at the College. Peer Advisors are also trained to provide feedback on resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills, LinkedIn, or using online systems for the internship and job search.
2021-2022 Peer Advisor Bios
Pareen Mhatre
Email: pareen-mhatre@uiowa.edu
Major: Biomedical Engineering
EFA: Biomechanics & Biomaterials
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
Engineering Experience: Undergraduate research assistant at BioMOST Lab, Communications and Marketing Assistant at University of Iowa Technology Institute
Involvement: Vice President of Indian Student Alliance, SWE member, Helping Hand Project member, former UIHC and Backpack Project volunteer
Fun Facts: In my free time, you can find me going on long walks, being an advocate in the immigration field, or playing guitar!
Katy Garn
Email: kathryn-garn@uiowa.edu
Major: Biomedical Engineering
EFA: Cellular Engineering
Minor: Spanish
Hometown: Norman, OK
Engineering Experience: R&D Internship at Miromatrix Medical Inc. (Eden Prairie, MN), R&D Engineer Internship at Medical Murray (North Barrington, IL)
Involvement: Study abroad in Alcala de Henares, Spain, Engineering Student Ambassador, Honors at Iowa, Neighbors of Iowa City, Chi Omega Women's Fraternity
Fun Facts: I love chocolate, being in the sun, and going on walks with friends! I also took up ice skating in January :)
Jessica Schroeder
Email: jessica-j-schroeder@uiowa.edu
Major: Chemical Engineering
EFA: Business
Minors: Chemistry and Business Administration
Hometown: Crest Hill, IL
Engineering Experience: Internship at Stepan Company(Elwood, IL), Co-op at Bayer Crop Science(Muscatine, IA), Internship at BASF (Malcom, IA)
Involvement: VP External for SWE (previously Volunteer Chair and High School Conference Co-Chair), Corresponding Secretary for Theta Tau, Student Ambassador, and Member of STAR (Students to Assist Recruitment)
Fun Facts: I like to spend time outside playing different sports or biking. I also love to bake.
Jared Parr
Major: Chemical Engineering
EFA: Tailored
Engineering Experience: Environmental Engineering Co-op (Summer 2021 – Fall 2021) at Bayer Crop Science in Muscatine, IA. Undergraduate Research Assistant in Cwiertny Lab (Spring 2019)
Involvement: Engineering Student Ambassador, Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, former Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Supervisor, Omega Chi Epsilon Chemical Engineering Honor Society, Ski and Snowboard Club
Fun Facts: I love to spend time outside whenever possible doing activities such as hiking, biking, longboarding, and skiing. I’m also a plant dad.
Jolee Mohr
Email: Jolee-mohr@uiowa.edu
Major: Civil Engineering
EFA: Tailored
Hometown: Orion, IL
Engineering Experience: Civil Engineering Internship with HNTB Corporation (Des Moines, IA)
Involvement: President of FACE (Female Alliance of Civil and Environmental Engineers) (previously VP and Social Media Chair), Member of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), former Engineering Student Ambassador, ICRU Research Fellow with Dr. Robert Bork (School of Art History) creating computer models of European Gothic cathedrals, member of the Ski and Snowboard Club, member of Dance Marathon
Fun Facts: My favorite pastimes include reading, drawing, skiing, hiking, traveling, practicing yoga, collecting books, listening to music, antique window-shopping, going to museums, and cooking with no recipe!
Cody Anderson
Email: cody-anderson@uiowa.edu
Major: Electrical Engineering
EFA: Computer
Hometown: Pleasant Valley, IA
Engineering Experience: Two summers as a software developer intern at State Farm Insurance
Involvement: Student Leader at Salt Company (Christian Campus Ministry)
Fun Facts: I've been to the Emergency Room in three different countries and I have lived overseas in Madrid Spain and Pune India. I have a twin sister.
Megan Ertl
Email: megan-ertl@uiowa.edu
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
EFA: Management
Hometown: Dyersville, IA
Engineering Experience: Manufacturing Engineer internship with Toyota Material Handling: The Raymond Corp. (2019 - Muscatine, IA). Two Industrial Engineer internships with the Sustainable Workplaces division of General Motors (Detroit, MI). Mobile Equipment Group (2020) and Alliance Vanguard (2021). Design for Manufacturing Teaching Assistant
Involvement: Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE) Treasurer, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, UI Waterski & Wakeboard Team
Fun Facts: Love to waterski and enjoy summer weather. My favorite style of pizza is Detroit style!
Payton Krueger
Email: payton-krueger@uiowa.edu
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
EFA: Management
Hometown: Bettendorf, IA
Engineering Experience: 3 Co-op rotations with Collins Aerospace (Cedar Rapids, IA): one Industrial Engineering Co-op supporting PCB assembly lines to help manufacture commercial avionics and two New Product Introduction Engineering Co-op rotations focusing on software development for the transition of military microelectronic components from R&D to high-rate production
Involvement: Member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, Theta Tau brother, and former Dance Marathon Dancer
Fun Facts: My dream job is to be an aquatic fitness instructor for seniors (preferably on a beach in Florida) and my last meal would be a pepperoni pizza from Papa John's with a chocolate-Oreo Blizzard
Wendy Houston
Email: wendy-houston@uiowa.edu
Major: Mechanical Engineering
EFA: Tailored
Hometown: Ottumwa, IA
Engineering Experience: Interned in Manufacturing Engineering, Quality Engineering, and Co-Op in Product Verification and Validation at John Deere Ottumwa Works. Interned in Enterprise Engineering Standards at John Deere World Headquarters
Involvement: Vice President of Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity (previously Professional Development Co-Chair), Society of Women Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and a Youth Sports Coordinator for the City of Iowa City
Fun Facts: I love to spend time outside. Over quarantine, I have become absolutely obsessed with house plants.