Charlotte Dungan, a 2020 graduate of Mercer University‘s School of Engineering, earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, specializing in environmental engineering.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be continuing my education at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in the fall, working toward a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering. I will be working with Dr. Christian Carrico on aerosol research. I also plan to work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory while pursing my master’s degree.
What is one of your favorite Mercer memories?
I have always had a fascination with astronomy and the beauty of our solar system. As a result, I took Dr. Matt Marone’s astronomy class. One night my class traveled to the Mercer Observatory and saw numerous galaxies (M82, M81, M1), planets and the moon. The sky was very clear, which made it the most beautiful sky I’d ever seen.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Believe in yourself and accept risk! When I came to campus as a freshman, I lacked confidence in my abilities. Thanks to the amazingly supportive professors and classmates at Mercer, I gained confidence. I learned that I was exactly where I was meant to be. I worked very hard, applied to as many scholarships as I could and got involved with professors’ research. All these risks paid off because I now feel prepared to advance as a person and engineer.
How did Mercer prepare you for your future?
The classes and research I undertook at Mercer makes me prepared to decide what field of environmental engineering I choose to go into. My experiences at Mercer also made me a strong candidate for national scholarships and internships. I have interned at Stanford University and the National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska, during my undergrad, and these experiences made me well rounded and enhanced my ability to grow and learn.
What makes Mercer special to you?
Mercer has been my home for four years. I have met my best friends, amazing professors and great people while here. Mercer provided me with the space to explore new things and learn tremendously, and it gave me the tools to make it as a professional engineer. I have no doubt I made the right decision to complete my undergrad at Mercer.
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