Purdue ECE undergraduate students named Dean's Leadership Scholars
Purdue ECE undergraduate students named Dean's Leadership Scholars
Purdue University’s College of Engineering has announced the selection of 14 exceptional undergraduate students, including two from the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, as the newest members of the Dean’s Leadership Scholars program for the 2025–26 academic year. Abigail Origer and Evan Stonestreet are seniors majoring in electrical engineering and computer engineering, respectively.
Origer mentors first-year engineering students through Purdue’s Women in Engineering Program, offering guidance and support as they navigate the academic and personal challenges of the engineering journey.
As the Electrical Lead on a medical device team with Purdue MIND, Origer has played a key role in designing impactful healthcare solutions. She also served as the Project Partner Liaison for her EPICS team, acting as the primary communicator between her team and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and success.
In her roles as a student, teaching assistant and mentor, Origer has participated in a wide range of engineering initiatives and brings a deep understanding of the challenges engineering students face — particularly as one of the 16% of women in Purdue’s Electrical and Computer Engineering program. Her experiences reflect not only technical skill but also a strong commitment to collaboration and mentorship in STEM.
Stonestreet has participated in multiple student organization experiences at Purdue, particularly related to culture. In his freshman year, he was heavily involved in the birth of SWANA, a student organization aimed at celebrating and fostering unity within the Middle Eastern culture on campus. As treasurer, he was responsible for budget management and grant applications to fund events and contributed significantly to event planning and strategy development in efforts to establish a cultural center.
The experience dovetails with his current involvement with Cross Cultural Association (CCA). He co-founded the organization in Spring 2024 and served as president until his participation in a study abroad program. His time with CCA allowed Stonestreet to grow as a well-rounded leader teaching him that being a leader is fundamentally about bringing out the best in others. In addition to his cultural leadership roles, Stonestreet served as an electronics peer mentor at the Bechtel Innovation & Design Center. Most recently he represented Aerovy, a Purdue start-up, leading a consulting group from Purdue Launch in conducting market research to identify optimal sites for the company’s next operations.
Established in 2019, the prestigious Dean’s Leadership Scholars program recognizes top student leaders for their academic excellence and commitment to leadership, positioning them as key advisors to the dean on strategic college initiatives.
The responsibilities of a Dean's Leadership Scholar go well beyond those of a typical student. Scholars meet with the dean two to four times a year, providing valuable insights and feedback on key college initiatives, including the Vision 2030 plan — Purdue Engineering's strategic effort to become the most consequential engineering college in the nation. They also have the unique opportunity to engage with the Engineering Advisory Council and connect with distinguished alumni and leaders from industry.
Source: Purdue Engineering names 14 Dean’s Leadership Scholars