My name is Alayna Skidmore and I am a sophomore studying Industrial Engineering at Purdue University and pursuing minors in management, French, and global engineering studies. On campus, I am very involved. I serve as a director for the PSPF Board of Directors for the school newspaper (“The Exponent”) which is a non-profit organization committed to providing the Purdue student body and surrounding West Lafayette community with accurate news. Additionally, I serve on the Purdue chapter of the Institute for Industrial and Systems Engineers board. Specifically, I serve on the conference committee (as the sponsorship chair) of the board, the sector responsible for planning the national IISE conference that will be held at Purdue in the Spring of 2025. Additionally, I am involved in Purdue’s GEARE program (a program committed to providing students with international work and study experience), the Women in Engineering Mentors and Mentees Program, Women in Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Society of Women Engineers.I have work experience in customer service as a server and carry out worker at Archer's Tavern for 3 years. This job entails communicating with and assisting customers, which helps me cultivate a skill for assisting clients. I also work in a fast paced environment, which teaches me to work efficiently while maintaining accuracy. This past year, I consistently held the highest sales in the restaurant. Now, I am looking to gain hands-on experience in the engineering field through internships or co-ops to further my understanding of engineering concepts.I have an upcoming co-op rotation with GE Appliances this Spring 2025, so I look forward to gaining some technical experience there.