Jenny Heinlein (BSChE 2000)

I grew up in Colorful Colorado but seeking warmer weather and spicier food, I headed south to NMSU and pursued a degree in Chemical Engineering. It was recent enough that I was taught by several of the professors who are there today; I’ll never forget “Dr. Evil”, late night brainstorming for the WERC problem, and those weird sunken-in computer screens in the computer lab (okay… maybe it was a FEW years ago…). After completing three co-op terms with Dow Chemical, one intern assignment at Merck, and actually passing all those impossible classes, I graduated in May of 2000 with a BS in ChE. I attended the graduation ceremony and I had a great time; plan on going if you’re still in school.

I hired in to the process engineering group at Dow Chemical in August 2000 and spent a couple years doing design work (kind of like Design Class only you get to use fancy modeling programs and a bit scary since what you design might actually be built). I took a job in manufacturing in 2002 and spent the next four years contemplating how to make epoxy products on spec and on schedule. My latest role at Dow has been in an ethylene production facility; I’ve worked on several multi-million dollar capital projects to improve safety, cost, and energy performance of the plant. This has been my favorite role since I get to do a little bit of design work AND a little bit of hands-on practical application.

Since I live on the Texas Gulf Coast, it does somewhat hinder (but not eliminate) my number one hobby: hiking and camping in the great American West with my incredible family. I also really enjoy jogging endless miles… yes for the fun of it; reading books that don’t have equations in them; playing the oboe in a local band; and sleeping as much as possible on the weekends. I try to take a trip back to southern New Mexico at least once year so that I can catch up with friends from college and consume some good green chili. Enjoy it while you can!!! ..