RosePod is a thought-provoking and inspiring podcast from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. We’re here to help guide future STEM leaders through the maze of undergraduate degree options in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Join our student hosts, Reese Sieger & Isaac Towne, as they delve into topics such as choosing the right major, navigating the college application process, and uncovering hidden opportunities within the world of STEM.
With interviews featuring forward-thinking educators, successful professionals, key industry insights, and practical advice, RosePod is your one-stop shop for discovering how a STEM undergraduate degree can pave the path to a rewarding career.
Tune in and let RosePod be the catalyst to achieving your wildest dreams in the STEM universe!
Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. All episodes are embedded below:
Episode 9: Engineering a Diverse Future in STEM
When we talk about diversity in STEM fields, most people immediately think of the race or gender gaps. But for today's guest, promoting diversity in STEM means encouraging diversity in thought, behavior, interaction, and much more.
Dr. Carlotta Berry is the Lawrence J. Giacletto Endowed Chair and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rose Hulman. Her areas of expertise include educational mobile robotics and enhanced human-robot interfaces. Also specializing in recruitment and retention activities for underrepresented populations in electrical and computer engineering, she helped found the Rose Building Undergraduate Diversity (ROSE-BUD) program, which she co-advises.
In this episode of RosePod, Dr. Berry joins our student hosts Isaac and Reese, and shares her journey from aspiring math teacher to esteemed professor, touching on her educational experiences from Nashville to Vanderbilt and her commitment to diversifying STEM. Dr. Berry discusses her initiatives to inspire young and diverse demographics through STEM outreach, including writing children’s books and engaging in hands-on STEM activities. The episode also highlights Rose Hulman's supportive environment promoting group work and practical experience, aiming to produce well-rounded graduates prepared for challenging engineering and science careers.
Episode 8: What It Means To Be a Fightin’ Engineer: How To Get Involved With Athletics at Rose
At Rose-Hulman, athletics and academics go hand in hand. And no one knows how important the balance between classes and practices is than head football coach Jeff Sokol.
Sokol has coached at Rose-Hulman for 13 years and played DIII football himself when he was in school. On this episode of RosePod, Sokol chats with student hosts Isaac and Reese about the variety of athletics offered at Rose, what coaching DIII football is like, and how Rose-Hulman supports its student-athletes on the field and in the classroom.
Episode 7: From Brain Surgery to the Superbowl: Internship Opportunities at Rose-Hulman Ventures
One thing we pride ourselves on here at Rose-Hulman is providing our students real-world experience and exceptional internship opportunities.
And our guest today is passionate about fostering innovation and solutions-oriented product design right here on campus. Brian Dougherty is the Senior Director of Rose-Hulman Ventures, a product design, rapid prototyping and development firm located on Rose-Hulman’s south campus. He is also a Rose alum from the class of 1993!
Today, Brian will share what Rose Ventures is all about with our student hosts Isaac and Reese.
He highlights the variety of projects students are working on through the program from software development to medical devices, and how these challenging projects prepare students for the workforce.
Episode 6: Where Passions Come To Life: Getting to Know Rose-Hulman’s Innovation Centers
Here at Rose-Hulman, we really believe in hands-on experience, and our innovation center are filled with opportunities to get dirty. In this podcast episode, we are digging into Rose Hulman's Branam Innovation Center (BIC) and Kremer Innovation Center (KIC).
For this conversation, we are joined by Lee Dagle, the administrative assistant for the BIC, the KIC, and engineering design, as well as Garrett Hart, a Rose-Hulman electrical engineering student who is very involved in the BIC as well.
Lee & Garrett chat with our student hosts Isaac and Reese all about how these centers provide students with tangible experiences, fostering innovative thinking and practical learning outside the classroom. They discuss how the centers enable students to express their passions and have an accessible platform to experiment and take risks, and share a bit about what all the student teams at the BIC and the KIC are working on lately.
Episode 5: Building Connections and Finding Your Passions: How Career Services Can Help You Succeed
You’ve found your place and are doing your coursework here at Rose-Hulman, but what happens once you graduate? The post-college career world can be difficult to navigate, but we have so many resources right here on campus that can help students & alumni find the best career to fit their goals.
To tell us more, we are joined today by Scott Tieken, Director of Career Services & Kathy Kassissieh, Associate Director of Career Services and Employer Relations at Rose-Hulman. With almost 2 decades each at Rose-Hulman, Scott and Kathy sit down with our student hosts Isaac and Reese about what career services has to offer, working with peer advisors, how its okay to not know what you want to do with your life big picture just yet and more that shows why the Princeton Review ranks us No. 10 in the nation for Best Career Services!
Episode 4: Women in STEM: Working to Bridge the Gap
It's no surprise that women are underrepresented in the world of STEM. Whether it's internal stigma or external barriers, here at Rose-Hulman, we are working to create an even playing field for women looking to get into the industry.
Dr. Kimberly Henthorn is the Department Head of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor here at Rose-Hulman. She specializes in particle technology and two-phase microfluidic systems, and is currently conducting research with students on the science and engineering of chocolate production.
A member of Rose-Hulman’s first coed freshman class, Dr. Henthorn is not only an alumna, but a born and raised Indianan, as well as an advisor for the campus’ Delta Delta Delta sorority chapter.
Dr. Henthorn joins our student hosts Isaac and Reese chat about coming to a predominantly male school, how she has seen the field change with more female representation, highlights the positive progress over the past years, and offers a number of resources for girls interested in the STEM field.
Episode 3: Research Opportunities for Undergrads at Rose-Hulman
While many people think of research as an upperclassmen or graduate school activity, we want to nurture your curiosity whenever inspiration hits you. So today, we are walking all about research opportunities at Rose-Hulman, for undergraduates and more. Dr. Ross Weatherman is the Head of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and a native of Indiana. His latest work involves leading a team of high-achieving students in researching the role of estrogen in the development and treatment of breast cancer.
Dr. Weatherman chats with student hosts Isaac and Reese about the best parts of the Rose-Hulman curriculum, research, and labs! He shares with us how he found his way from pre-med to chemistry & pharmaceuticals, the benefits of starting research as an undergrad, and programs to get a jumpstart on your research careers like Operation Catapult and Project SELECT.
Episode 2: What to Look For On A Campus Tour
As vice president for student affairs and dean of students, Erik Hayes oversees all aspects of student life including housing, dining services, the student union, athletics, and more, and is here to help you figure out how to choose the best school for you.
Erik catches up with student hosts (and campus tour guides) Isaac and Reese to talk all things college tours. Listen as they chat about trusting your gut when you visit a campus, the difference between residence halls vs dorms, matching up roommates by hand, greek life, and other ways to get involved on campus.
Episode 1: Why STEM?
In our first ever podcast episode, Rose-Hulman Provost Dr. Rick Samper sits down with our student hosts Isaac and Reese to chat about his career path in STEM, becoming okay with failure, learning by doing in labs, and the beauty and creativity in engineering.
With extensive teaching and industry experience, Dr. Stamper’s background includes positions as an area manager at Proctor & Gamble, Design Team Leader at General Electric, and forming a small company to develop medical devices. Dr. Stamper has been featured in the Princeton Reviews Best 300 Professors book, and is among a handful of faculty to have received the Dean’s Outstanding Teacher and Board of Trustees Outstanding Scholar awards. He currently serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Rose-Hulman.