At CEET, we love sharing stories about Huskies who dream big and tackle challenges on some of the world’s biggest stages.
Take Haley Cummings, who received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2016 and her master’s degree in mechanical engineering two years later. Inspired by mentors including Professor Brianno Coller and Associate Professor Sahar Vahabzadeh, Cummings went from NIU student-athlete to leading research at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
Of Coller, she noted that every class she took from him became her favorite. “He made learning engineering fun,” she says. “And the concepts also stuck with me, and neither of those things are a given in engineering.”
The skills she learned from Coller and Vahabzadeh’s courses were game changers.
“I take those skills with me and have built upon them in my career. I’m thankful I got to get hands-on experience in my master’s thesis work,” she said.
In her current role, she’s working in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley on cutting-edge rotorcraft that could help us explore Mars. Her journey underscores how curiosity, hard work and a little Huskie grit can take you anywhere.
Learn more about the latest chapter in Cummings’ career in this NIU Alumni Association feature, Haley Cummings, ’16, M.S. ’18, Innovates Tools For Mars Exploration At NASA.
