Morgan Powell '26, Civil Engineering

"I don't think sustainability is a hobby; I feel like it's a requirement for engineering, especially for civil and structural engineering. Everything we do is intertwined."

Morgan Powell '26 came to Bucknell because she was impressed by the ability to sign up for summer research before the start of her first year. The Weyers Cave, Va., native kicked off her college experience over the summer with the Engineering EXCELerator program, followed by Backstage Bucknell, an engineering-focused Pre-Orientation program. "The students were welcoming, and it wasn't theoretical — we were actually doing things," she says.

As a first-year student, Powell researched sustainable transportation at Bucknell and throughout Lewisburg with the University's Center for Sustainability and the Environment (BCSE). She interviewed residents about walking and biking paths to learn how to make green transport safer in the community. Then, she compiled that data and created a statistical report to return to the residents. "It gives initiatives a push when people go to the Lewisburg Borough to say they need bike racks in a certain location or bike lanes to make transportation safer," she says. "Now, they have statistical proof that people in the community want these things."

Following that project, Powell remained on campus over the summer to continue her work with the BCSE, this time examining the feasibility of small-scale biodigester tanks that produce renewable energy from waste products in Pennsylvania.

Although she's a civil engineering major, sustainability is a core focus in all of Powell's work. She helped start a Grand Challenge Scholars club at Bucknell, an interdisciplinary group of students interested in solving the biggest challenges of the 21st century, like cybersecurity, health care and global warming.

"I don't think sustainability is a hobby; I feel like it's a requirement for engineering, especially for civil and structural engineering. Everything we do is intertwined," says Powell, who is minoring in environmental studies.

Powell is applying that mindset to a project with Professor Kelly Salyards, civil & environmental engineering, developing models of origami-inspired architecture to eventually create transportable, temporary refugee housing. With Iona Pitkin '25, she developed simultaneous digital models and physical prototypes using different materials and patterns, thinking about their feasibility and strength when scaled up. They are working toward structural testing of both.

"One of the things that I really like about Bucknell and the engineering department is if you're willing to put in the effort, you're gonna get what you want out of it because everyone's willing to help you and will motivate you to do it," she says. "I'll say, 'What if we did this?' or 'I'd be interested in helping with this,' and my adviser will say, 'Yes, 100%. We'll find funding to pay you, we'll help you get materials, we found this conference that you could present at. Let's go do it.' "

Powell looks forward to applying her studies to a career in structural engineering and has already gained experience in the industry collaborating with several Bucknell alumni. Over the summer, she interned with Clark Construction, helping to renovate a historic streetcar garage into the home of D.C.'s first all-electric bus fleet.

"I was interviewed for the position by Allie Lovalo '15, a Bucknell alumna who was basically me nine years ago," Powell says. "It was great to see someone else in the field with similar aspirations working to make things better for her community and the environment."