Students from Purdue University’s Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program are turning classroom knowledge into real-world impact through an international sustainability project in Costa Rica.

Vignesh Viswanathan, a graduate student in Purdue's Master of Engineering Management program, was part of the team that took first place in the Microsoft Global Intern Hackathon with EchoFrame — an AI-driven marketing agent that transforms raw customer feedback into emotionally resonant visuals within seconds.

I began Purdue’s MEM program after finishing my undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. I knew from the start that Purdue MEM would present me with opportunities that would excel my professional career. What I did not know was how soon, and how exciting, some of those opportunities would be.

Tears of joy streamed down Carlyse Wallace’s face when she learned she was accepted into Purdue’s Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program in November 2021.
“It was a dream come true for me,” she said.

This fall, Varsha Simpadipura Prasanna began her journey in Purdue University’s Master of Engineering Management program — but her academic pursuit comes with a historic distinction. Varsha is the inaugural recipient of the DETermined Scholarship, a $30,000 award launched by the Duolingo English Test (DET) in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The scholarship aims to empower young Indian women in STEM and support their ambitions to drive real-world change.

As a U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) Officer, we are charged with the planning, acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of all Navy and Marine Corps shore facilities worldwide.

Maya Mishra, who earned her master’s in engineering management (MEM) degree in May, was the sole recipient of the American Society for Engineering Management (ASEM) Graduate Scholarship. ASEM is a global professional society dedicated to promoting and advancing the engineering and technical management profession.

Purdue’s Team Powerpuff Girls — comprised of Shreya Sen and Tushar Sivaraman Vibhish — recent graduates of Purdue’s Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program — and Shubham Kumar, who will graduate in December, secured an impressive second-place finish at the 2025 Johns Hopkins Product Management Club Hackathon.

Paridha Talmale, who is pursuing her master’s in engineering management degree, was the sole Purdue member of the ToTech team who placed first in Innovate-A-Thon, a competition that provides a unique opportunity for university students to generate new ideas, collaborate and recognize views from all team members.

My pivot into Product required relentless effort and perseverance. Looking back, my journey to Purdue University and to my current role as a Product Manager, has been filled with challenges, hard work, and personal growth. My parents’ sacrifices laid the foundation for my success, and Purdue MEM enabled me to build upon it. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that opportunities are out there, but you must be proactive, find the right resources, and reach out to the right people.