When Danielle set her sights on a career in the auto industry, she chose to learn at the center of it all. Michigan Engineering’s Automotive Engineering program allowed her to learn in Southeast Michigan, an automotive engineering hub.
Danielle didn’t stumble into Automotive Engineering—she pursued it with intent. “I always knew I wanted to study automotive engineering since I was in my undergrad,” she explained. “I only looked at schools that had automotive engineering to begin with.”
Michigan’s proximity to major automakers and motorsport hubs sealed the deal. “I wanted to come here mostly because I knew whatever sector of the automotive industry I’d end up in—I knew I would have a good chance at getting there if I went to U-M,” she said. “Being close to the heart of the Motor City is very nice.”
Among Danielle’s coursework, one class rose above the rest. “I really like the vehicle dynamics class,” she said. The class’s race-inspired, hands-on format matched her learning style. “Every week, we would have an assignment that we would do in a program called CarSim, and we would have to tailor a car to the assignment. So whether it was being the fastest lap, being the most comfortable—we would have to change the suspension and the wheels and everything like that to make it the best car for that assignment.”
The results were immediate and practical. “I found that really interesting,” she added, “and it taught me a lot more about cars than somebody just sitting there lecturing me would. I thought it was better to actually see those values in a program, to get to learn hands-on.”
Outside the classroom, Danielle dove into a student team that aligned with her interests. “I was a part of a club called Spark Electric Racing, which is where we design, build, and then race an electric motorcycle.” That experience—scoping problems, iterating designs, and racing what you build—complemented her coursework and helped her stand out to employers.
Today, Danielle’s work takes her far beyond the lab. She now works at North American Subaru, Inc.’s Michigan office, helping ensure electric vehicles perform reliably in the toughest conditions. “I actually just got back from Colorado,” she said at the time of her interview. “We were testing in the mountains, for cold weather, how the vehicles perform specifically—their power limitations when the battery was really cold.”
Travel is an important part of her job. “I work on primarily EVs,” she said. “So I’m working on the charging performance in extreme weather, like the extreme cold that we have sometimes here in Michigan.” For EV testing to be comprehensive, it’s important to conduct it in different parts of the country.
For Danielle, the Michigan credential opened doors. “I would say, it’s quite simple: just having the degree has impacted my career really well,” she said. “It was a very big advantage to me to have this degree. It helped going into my career and in getting a job.” The program also delivered something more personal: “It just made me happier as a person. I didn’t really get to have the college experience that I wanted due to Covid. So coming here made me feel a bit more fulfilled in my life.”
