ME Student Organizations
Iowa State University is home to hundreds of student organizations and clubs for almost every interest, whether it’s a professional pursuit or just for fun. Check out these Mechanical Engineering-related student organizations:
Members: 25-50
Contact: Ashley Miller, President
Advisor: Mirka Deza
The ISU Student Section of American Nuclear Society is an organization in which members are encouraged to freely discuss nuclear science and its applications. Activities include discussions, site visits to facilities that utilize nuclear technology, and presentations from academia and industry. While ISU ANS is innately focused on physics and engineering, the club is open to all majors as the nuclear science field is highly interdisciplinary. The American Nuclear Society Club was the precursor to the now Iowa State University Student Section of the American Nuclear Society.
Website: stuorg.iastate.edu/ashrae
Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is that of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. which was set forth in its charter: principally to advance the arts and sciences of heating, refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation and the allied arts and sciences, for the benefit of the general public. Furthermore this chapter will connect students with industry and professional ASHRAE members as well as encourage interactions between students with the common interest. The chapter’s goals include introducing the student to ASHRAE standards and helping students gain a passion for this industry through socials, design competitions, industry speakers, industry tours, and conference attendance.
Mission: The mission of ASHRAE is to advance the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration and related human factors to serve the evolving needs of the public and ASHRAE. The vision of ASHRAE is to be the global leader in the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration; be the foremost, authoritative, timely and responsive source of technical and educational information, standards and guidelines; and be the primary provider of opportunity for professional growth, recognizing and adapting to changing demographics, and embracing diversity.
Members: 300-325
Advisor: Matt Hagge
Since its founding in 1880 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has strived to be the premier worldwide organization for promoting the art, science, and practice of mechanical engineering. Today ASME is comprised of over 125,000 members from around the globe, making up over 400 sections and student sections including Iowa State University’s. The society serves engineering professionals, students, and educators alike.
The Iowa State University section of ASME is completely student run. It provides student members with the opportunities to grow beyond the classroom. The section has many activities throughout the academic year that are geared towards extended learning. These include industry sponsored meetings, professional discussions, and design contests.
Company reps frequently visit the regularly scheduled general meetings and Friday After Class (FAC) social events to meet members and talk about their company.
Members: 175-200
Contact: solarcar@prisum.org
Advisors: David Ringholz, Emmanuel Agba, James Hill
Cyclone Space Mining is a multidisciplinary student organization that designs and builds a lunar robot to compete in the annual NASA Robotic Mining Competition. Students from all majors and backgrounds are encouraged to join.
Members: 75-100
Contact: Melynda Hoover, Co-President; Haley Swartz, Co-President
Advisors: Mark Mba Wright, Owen Kolstad
EWB-USA is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that supports community-driven development programs worldwide. Members design and implement sustainable engineering projects in developing communities to improve their quality of life. Through long-term partnerships, multiple interdisciplinary projects can be implemented in a single community. Types of projects include water supply, sanitation, structures, agriculture, energy, civil works, and information systems.
EWB at Iowa State was founded in 2008, and the chapter has since worked on projects in Mali, Belize, and now Ghana. Students have the opportunity to apply their education to real-world projects alongside experienced professionals. In addition to developing technical skills, members experience new cultures and create personal relationships with the people of the partnering communities. EWB-ISU is working for a world in which the people we serve have the capacity to sustainably meet their basic human needs while creating responsible leaders and transformative experiences for members.
Members: 25-50
Contact: Tiara Turner, President; Wadood Daoud, Vice President
Advisor: Lequetia Ancar
Promotes engineering, science, technology, and mathematics related curricula to all students, especially underrepresented minorities. Helps to retain minorities in Sciences.
Members: 50-75
Contact: Jacob Winter, President
Advisor: Jonathan Claussen
Pi Tau Sigma was founded on March 16, 1915 to recognize students with high academic standing in the Mechanical Engineering curriculum and to stimulate and promote departmental activities. The Iowa State Pi Epsilon Chapter was installed at the National Convention in November of 1942. There are currently over 140 active chapters across the country with a total membership exceeding 100,000.The Pi Epsilon Chapter at Iowa State seeks to foster scholarship among students and promote academic quality in the department. Among its activities, Pi Tau Sigma is involved with outreach to k-12 students, sharing experiences about internships/study abroad/graduate school with younger ME students, participation in departmental committees, hosting lab tours, social gatherings, plant tours, and administering the Professor of the Year Award (selected by ME seniors).
At present, over 50 undergraduate students in our department are members of Pi Tau Sigma. Membership in the organization gives students a special distinction and the opportunity to support the department in a number of ways. Benefits include the honor of being recognized for your academic record, opportunities for service and leadership, and greater interaction with professors and the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Members: 450-500
Contact: TBD
Advisors: Paola Pittoni
Every year, the organization designs, builds, markets and races mini Formula, Baja Supermileage, and Clean Snowmobile vehicles. SAE International also has many opportunities to attend national automotive trade shows, listen to technical speakers about new developments in the automotive field, and provide many career opportunities to dedicated members.
Members: 50-75
Contact: Liz Nieves-Perez, President;Marcos Cortes, Treasurer
Advisor: J. Eliseo De León, Mirka Deza
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) at Iowa State collaborates with Latinos in Science and Engineering (MAES) to try to help our members achieve their academic and professional goals.
We accept students of any engineering or science major, even if they are not Latino. Throughout the year, we offer opportunities for leadership experience and opportunities for travel to national conferences. During general meetings we usually have professionals from engineering fields come speak with us, and food is always provided. We are many cultures, but one familia.
Members: 50-75
Contact: Matthew Lakota, President
Advisor: Saxon James Ryan
A mixture of Industrial Technology Majors, Engineering Majors, and anyone else who is interested. We participate in plant tours, projects, and are active with our senior chapter.
Members: 150-175
Contact: Glenna Lovig, President; Megan Peters, President-Elect
Advisors: Kaitlin Bratlie, Amy Carver and Michelle Soupir
Stimulate women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders by hosting meetings – Development, Leadership, Diversity, Education, Resources, Visibility.
Members: 200-225
Contact: Anthony LoCurto, President
Advisors: James Hill, Amy Kaleita-Forbes, LeVern Faidley
The national engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi, was founded at Lehigh University in 1885 by Dr. Edward Higginson Williams Jr. to honor exemplary character as undergraduates in engineering and high achievement in the field of engineering. The Iowa Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Pi was founded on December 20, 1907 and has since initiated more than 6,000 members.
Members: 175-200
Contact: solarcar@prisum.org
Advisors: David Ringholz, Emmanuel Agba, James Hill
It is our mission to build a practical solar car that changes the paradigm of transportation. In doing so, we strive to inspire future generations to pursue their passions through education.
Members: 25-50
Contact: Elena Gladen, President
Advisors: Margaret Mathison, Paola Pittoni
Bringing women together to share the experiences and rewards of being a mechanical engineer. We offer free events to all women studying ME at Iowa State to foster a sense of community through social and professional events
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