Karishma Nair

College of Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering

"A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference" -Eeyore

Hometown: Forest, Virginia

Fun fact about yourself: I am legally ordained to marry people in Alaska!

If you participated in an internship, what company was it for and what were your job responsibilities?

Seasonally throughout 2017-2019, I interned with Intercon as an Engineering Intern. I gained basic manufacturing experience within the production line, quality assurance team, and engineering department. In Summer 2019, I interned for BWXT. Here, I worked to creatively streamline several weekly processes. I also assisted with scheduling and helped R&D with additive manufacturing. In Summer 2020, I worked virtually for Pepsico - Frito-Lay as a supply chain intern. I competed in a cross-functional team in a design competition against other intern teams throughout the country. I also got to learn about the Frito-Lay supply chain network and hear from various leaders in the Lynchburg, VA plant.

Which faculty member has made the biggest impact in your undergraduate education and how?

Several faculty members have made a great impact in my undergraduate education, making this a tough question to answer! Dr. Lau took me in as an undergraduate research volunteer as a freshman, when I still barely knew what ISE was. I continued in his lab for over a year, and then worked with him again my senior year. I was also able to take Human Information Processing, taught by Dr. Lau. He has helped me in several ways throughout my college career, from providing resume help to giving me more confidence in my own work.

Aside from your classmates, what has been the best part of being an industrial and systems engineering major at Virginia Tech?

The best part about being an ISE major is getting to share the love for ISE with everyone! There is so much to love about ISE at Virginia Tech, from our advisors, to the opportunities for growth, to our consistent top rankings! ISE is an often over-looked major, so I enjoy being able to speak first-hand about the major and department.

What club or activity excites you most at Virginia Tech and why?

My favorite activity throughout my years at Virginia Tech was intramurals. I have always enjoyed playing sports, but with intramurals I was able to try sports that I had never really played before while meeting new people in a casual setting.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your student career so far?

My biggest accomplishment was receiving the Torgersen Leadership Summit (TLS) Chair position within IISE. I had attended the 2018 and 2019 TLSs, and found them very helpful! I was excited to be able to plan, organize, and run the 2021 TLS along with the associate TLS chair. There were many challenges with the summit being online for the first time ever, but with the support of the IISE Professional Development team, we were able to pull off a great event for the attendees! It was a day filled with learning, impressive speakers, and unique, insightful breakout sessions!

What are your plans after graduation?

I will be working at Pepsico's Frito-Lay as a Supply Chain Leader! I'm excited to learn and grow in this new environment!

Final thoughts?

Thank you to my friends, family, and the ISE Department for everything!

Karishma Nair