Peer advisors are available for drop-ins 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday in 3612 SC.
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, focus area 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.
2025-2026 Peer Advisor Bios
Evie Del Campo
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/evelyndelcampo
Email: evie-delcampo@uiowa.edu
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minors: Math; Artificial Intelligence, Modeling, and Simulation Certificate
Focus Area: Biomechanics & Biomaterials
Hometown: Papillion, NE
Engineering Experience: Cardiovascular Biomechanics Research, University of Nebraska-Omaha (Summer 2024); Gerling Touch Lab, Systems Bioengineering REU, University of Virginia (Summer 2025)
Involvement: Kappa Alpha Theta, Unified Intramural Sports
Fun Facts: I used to live in Hawai'i and I have a blackbelt in Taekwondo
Lizzie Kilburg
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-kilburg
Email: elizabeth-kilburg@uiowa.edu
Major: Biomedical engineering
Focus Area: Cellular Engineering
Hometown: Ryan, IA
Engineering Experience: Undergraduate Researcher in Ankrum Lab
Involvement: VP internal for SWE, Social & Fundraising Chair for BMESS, undergraduate researcher
Fun Facts: I am blind in an eye and I am a certified scuba diver
Juliann Pawlowski
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juliannpaw
Email: pwlowski@uiowa.edu
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minor: Business Administration
Focus Area: Bioimaging
Hometown: Plainfield, IL
Engineering Experience: Viant Medical - Manufacturing Engineering Internship Summer '24 and Proctor & Gamble - Process Engineering Internship Summer '25
Involvement: Michaelson Lab - Undergraduate Research Assistant; Sciences Library - Student Associate; American Cancer Society - Previously held Secretary and Logistics Chair
Fun Facts: I have never broken a bone!
Gracie Rodriguez
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/grace-e-rodriguez
Email: grace-rodriguez@uiowa.edu
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Minor: Math and Computer Science
Focus Area: Bioimaging
Hometown: Schaumburg, IL
Engineering Experience: R&D Engineer Intern - Medical Murray ; Process Development Intern - Boston Scientific
Involvement: Engineering Ambassador; Theta Tau; Honors; Tau Beta Pi
Fun Fact: In high school I played football (and won) against a former Iowa Hawkeye and current Green Bay Packer.
Gabi Fiedor
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-fiedor/
Email: gfiedor@uiowa.edu
Major: Chemical Engineering
Minor: Chemistry and Business Administration
Focus Area: Business
Hometown: Homer Glen, IL
Engineering Experience: Citgo Gas and Petroleum: HSE - Environmental Intern (Summer 2024) and Process Technology Intern (Summer 2025); ISRP Research Assistant for PCB studies in Vermont schools
Involvement: AIChE : President and Historian | Omega Chi Epislon: Social Media Liason and Activity Coordinator | Theta Tau: Active Member | TA for Engineering Problem Solving
Fun Fact: I have climbed a 120ft distillation tower!
Eli Friesen
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/eli-friesen
Email: efriesen@uiowa.edu
Major: Civil Engineering
Focus Area: Civil and Environmental Engineering Practice
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
Engineering Experience: Civil Roadway Design Intern for Benesch
Involvement: Engineering Ambassador, ASCE, Resident Manager at M68 Apartments
Fun Facts: I went to Taiwan this summer. I have ate pork intestine before.
Keagen Head
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/keagenhead
Email: keagen-head@uiowa.edu
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor: Military Science
Focus Area: Tailored
Hometown: Durant, IA
Engineering Experience: I worked as a structures intern for Cornerstone Building Brands in the Summer of 2024, as a transportation intern for the Iowa DOT in the Summer of 2023, and as a water resources intern with the Iowa Army Corps of Engineers in the Summer of 2022.
Involvement: 4th year Army ROTC cadet; Former Treasurer of UIowa ASCE; member of Tau Beta Pi; member of the Black and Gold Warrior Club
Fun Facts: I once ate a Carolina Reaper in the Seamans Center… on purpose.
Bella Conrad
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/isabella-conrad
Email: isabella-conrad@uiowa.edu
Major: Computer Science & Engineering
Focus Area: Internet of Things
Hometown: Cross Plains, WI
Engineering Experience: Software Engineering Intern at Wabtec Railway Electronics, Student Software Assistant at the Iowa Reading Research Center
Involvement: Previous Iowa Edge Peer Leader, Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity Member, Tennis and Pickleball Open Court Player
Fun Fact: I can play the piano. My favorite color is green.
Emma Mackin
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mackin/
Email: emma-mackin@uiowa.edu
Major: Electrical Engineering
Minor: Business Administration
Focus Area: Business
Hometown: Homer Glen, IL
Engineering Experience: Associate Electrical Intern with Sargent & Lundy, L.L.C., Chicago, IL (Summer 2025) in the Nuclear Power Consulting Group; Project Engineering Intern (Summer 2024) and Electrical Maintenance Intern (Summer 2023) with CITGO Petroleum Corporation.
Involvement: Current Regent of Theta Tau Omicron; Former Vice Regent and Marketing Chair. I also work as an Engineering Tutor at the College of Engineering.
Fun Facts: I have been to 17 concerts
Mishka Mohamed Nour
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mishka-mohamednour
Email: mishka-mohamednour@uiowa.edu
Major: Electrical Engineering
Focus Area: Tailored FA
Hometown: Elwali, Sudan
Engineering Experience: Summer internship with PepsiCo, Teaching Assistant, Web Intern with the College of Engineering
Involvement: President of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), ENGCOMM Case Competition, Debate Competitions, 1st Gen Student Advisory Board.
Fun Fact: I am a writer, I have done journalism and creative writing for a couple years.
Makenna Schneider
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/makenna-schneider
Email: Makschneider@uiowa.edu
Major: Environmental Engineering
Focus Area: Environmental
Hometown: Littleton, CO
Engineering Experience: Mu Lab, City of Englewood Drinking water treatment plant(2023), Water/Wastewater Design Intern-JMT (2024),Water/Wastewater Design Intern- Snyder & Associates (2025)
Involvement: Mu Lab, Triathlon Club, Engineering Ambassadors
Fun Facts: Have completed 2 half Ironmans, Played the Cello for 10 years
Grace Liening
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/grace-liening/
Email: grace-liening@uiowa.edu
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Focus Area: Design & Manufacturing
Hometown: Washington, IL
Engineering Experience: Controls Engineering Intern (Summer 2025) and Product Design Intern (Summer 2024) at Caterpillar Inc. | Manufacturing Engineering Intern (Summer 2023) at Komatsu
Involvement: Registrar's Assistant previously, SWE, IISE
Kate Meyer
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kate-meyer/
Email: kate-meyer-1@uiowa.edu
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Minor: Business Administration
Focus Area: Business Management
Hometown: Waukee, IA
Engineering Experience: Summer 2025 Quality Engineering Intern at Boston Scientific in Arden Hills, MN
Involvement: Engineering Ambassador, PIE LLC RA, Dance Marathon, Homecoming Council, Volunteer at the Stead Family Children's Hospital
Fun Facts: I ran the 2024 Chicago Marathon and am running it again this year as a charity entry for UIDM!
Alejandro Mirafuentes
Email: alejandro-mirafuentes@uiowa.edu
Major: Industrial & Systems Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Focus Area: Design, Manufacturing & Robotics
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Engineering Experience: Continious Improvement Engineer at Marmon Holdings Inc.; Research Assistant at The SONG Lab (UI); Supply Chain Management at Arconic Corp
Involvement: President at Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (2024-2025); Vice President at Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (2023-2024)
Fun Fact: I can speak 3 languages (Spanish, English and French) and I am learning my 4th (Italian). I am a musical person - I play drums and I currently DJ in my free time
Ben Gargani
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bgargani/
Email: bgargani@uiowa.edu
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Focus Area: Design
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Engineering Experience: Last summer I worked for Aqua-Aerobic Systems, a water filtration design company in my hometown Rockford, IL. I am still currently working for them part-time remotely. The summer before that I interned as a project manager at Helm Group
Involvement: I am currently the Treasurer for SAE Baja at Iowa. I am a member of Theta Tau Omicron. I am in the Ski and Snowboard club. I TAed the past year.
Fun Facts: I have a stopmotion youtube channel with 40k subscribers called Operation Brick, I also live in an old schoolhouse.
Michael Spurr
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/michael-spurr
Email: mspurr@uiowa.edu
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Focus Area: Manufacturing
Hometown: Elmhurst, IL
Engineering Experience: Engineering intern at Global Filter in Cedar Rapids for summer 2025.
Involvement: Research Chair and department liaison for ASME. Designed 3D printed drone frame for ASME competition in St. Louis in April 2025. Transferred to Iowa in 2024, was involved with Pi Tau Sigma (mechanical engineering honors society) at previous University.
Fun Facts: I played Hockey in high school
Kalyn Zitsch
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kalyn-zitsch
Email: kalyn-zitsch@uiowa.edu
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Mathematics
Focus Area: Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Hometown: Palatine, IL
Engineering Experience: Manufacturing Engineering Intern - Hearth & Home Technologies (Summer 2024); Product Development Engineering Intern - HNI Corporation (Summer 2025)
Involvement: Lead Engineering Student Ambassador; Co-Research Chair & Department Liaison - American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Former Executive Board Member - Society of Women Engineers (Spring 2023 - Spring 2025); Former Teaching Assistant - Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design & Introduction to Engineering Computing