About Us

Purdue WE Link

We're here to connect you to Purdue and answer any questions you have about Purdue Women in Engineering.  As current undergraduate women in engineering, we are your link to engineering, student life, and everything Purdue has to offer! We are dedicated to smoothing your transition into engineering and life at Purdue by answering your questions and sharing our knowledge with you. We'd love to answer any questions you have. Drop a note at our blog or contact us at welink@purdue.edu.

Fall 2024 Team
R1 Left to Right: Emily, Soph, Cynthia

R2 Left to Right: Ella, Isa, Maddie, Ellie, Mia

Meet the Team

Emily Helmuth, Senior, Civil Engineering

Hometown: Crown Point, Indiana

Emily is a co-chair of the Volunteer Nights committee for WE Link. Outside of WE Link, Emily is also a two time Color Captain of PUDM's morale committee, a Kiewit Scholar, a Civil Engineering Ambassador, a part of the Club Gymnastics Team, and a member of the Women in Engineering Mentor and Mentee Program. Emily also volunteered with Boiler Gold Rush (new student orientation) for two years, as a team leader and team supervisor, and was the 2023 Roger Sharritt Award recipient for her work as a team supervisor. In summer of 2023, Emily interned with Kiewit Oil and Gas Engineering as a structural design engineering intern in Houston, TX.  This past summer, Emily interned with Kiewit Building Group as a field/office engineer intern on the Lili'uokalani Community Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Outside of school, Emily likes to travel, hang out with friends, swim, and hike.

“I love WE Link because it helped me connect to other Purdue students within my major and engineering as a whole.  It definitely made Purdue feel more like a home." 

Ella Richardson, Senior, Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Ella is a co-chair of the Recruitment Project Committee for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Ella is also the social media chair for the Leading Women Towards Space Careers Program, a member of Salt Company Purdue, the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Mechanical Engineering, and the WiE Program's Undergraduate Mentees and Mentors Program. This past summer, Ella interned at Barrios Technology working on ISS Consumables at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. Outside of school, Ella loves to hike, watch Disney movies, and cozy up with a good book!

“I love WE Link because I get to reflect on what I love about Purdue and connect with prospective students! It's exciting to hear what everyone is interested in and use my experiences at Purdue to connect them with resources best fit to help them pursue their passions.”

Isa Hollenstein, Junior, Biomedical Engineering

Hometown: Grayslake, IL

Isa is a co-chair of Social Media for WE Link. In addition to WE Link, Isa is part of the WiE Mentees and Mentors program as well as outdoor and indoor intramural volleyball teams. In the summers of 2023 and 2024, Isa interned with Abbott Laboratories working in research and development in Abbott Park, IL.  Outside of school, Isa loves to hike, spend time outside, and read!

"I love WE Link because it was one of the organizations that solidified my decision to come to Purdue. I enjoy giving back to a program that influenced my decision, and I look forward to seeing the impact my efforts in WE Link have on helping prospective students choose Purdue."

Sophia Jarc, Junior, Industrial Engineering

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Sophia is a co-chair of Volunteer Nights for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Sophia is also a Team Supervisor for Boiler Gold Rush, on the Mentorship Board of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, a part of the Undergraduate Industrial Engineer "Viva Voce" Committee. Outside of school, Sophia enjoys fitness, baking, and cheering on Purdue sports.

"I love WE Link because it allows me to make an impact on prospective student's college decisions. I am honored to be able to give back to the program that helped me make my decision to become a Boilermaker Engineer."

Cynthia Castañeda, Junior, Computer Engineering

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana

Cynthia is a co-chair of Social Media for WE Link. Besides WE Link, Cynthia is also the secretary for Delta Phi Mu Sorority Inc., the secretary for Latinos in Science and Engineering, a member of the Society of Women Engineers, and a Purdue Promise Scholar. This past summer, Cynthia interned as an Embedded Systems Engineer at Allison Transmission in Indianapolis, IN. She has also interned as a Manufacturing Engineer at Allison Transmission and as a Device Manufacturing Engineer at Eli Lilly. Outside of school and work, Cynthia loves to watch movies, play board games, and hang out with friends.

"I love WE Link because I remember feeling overwhelmed as a prospective student, and through WE Link, I am able to make one-on-one connections with students to help answer questions, give advice and hopefully make their college decision easier."

Maddie French, Sophomore, Computer Enginering

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Maddie is a co-chair of Recruitment Project Committee for WE Link.  Besides WE Link, Maddie is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers, the WiE Program's Mentees and Mentors Program, the Healthy Celebrations Running Club, and Greek Life.  This past school year, Maddie also volunteered as a Boiler Gold Rush (new student orientation) team leader.  Outside of school, Maddie loves to play basketball, hang out with friends, and run the Chicago lakefront trail.

"I love WE Link because I get to connect with prospective students and can share what I love about Purdue and its community. The Women in Engineering Program offers so many resources and WE Link allows me to share everything I love about the program."

Mia Ortlieb, Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Sarasota, Florida

Maddie is a co-chair of Volunteer Nights for WE Link. Outside of WE Link, Mia is also a member of the EPICS team for the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI), Theme Park and Design Club, Salt Company Purdue, Women in Mechanical Engineering, and a mentor for the WiE Mentees and Mentors Program.  This past summer, Mia interned for Terran Orbital as a mechanical engineering intern in Melbourne, Florida. Outside of school, Mia likes to travel, play soccer, and hang out with friends.

"I love WE Link because it helped make Purdue feel like my home away from home. I'm passionate about inspiring prospective students and seeing how this program positively impacts others, just as it did for me."

Ellie Bergeron, Sophomore, Chemical Enginering

Hometown: Wheaton, Illinois

Ellie is a co-chair of Recruitment Project Committee for WE Link. In addition to WE Link, she is part of the Women in Engineering Mentees and Mentors program and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. This past summer, Ellie worked as a Civil/Environmental Engineering intern at the City of Naperville's Department of Public Utilities in Naperville, Illinois. In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, crafting, and watching documentaries.

"I love WE Link because it gives me a direct way to interact with prospective students and share my experience at Purdue. The Women in Engineering Program was one of the biggest reasons I chose Purdue, and I love being able to give back to that program and help prospective students have the same, great, experience that I had."