Tara Donohue

Mechanical Engineering Major at Tufts University

Tara is a 2019 Open Rivers Scholar and is currently a rising sophomore at Tufts University studying mechanical engineering. She is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers where she helps organize women in research events to provide research opportunities to underclassmen. She is also a part of Engineering without Borders, a student group that works to provide clean water access to a community in Silvio Mayorga, Nicaragua. 

On campus, Tara works for the Student Teacher Outreach Mentorship Program (STOMP) at the Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (CEEO) teaching an elementary school class about engineering once a week. She aims to encourage the students to get more involved in STEM and enjoys seeing the kids gain confidence in their skills and learn new things throughout the semester. Over the summer, Tara continues to work with the CEEO in their research lab studying role models in engineering education and the impact of STOMP in classrooms, specifically for young women. As an active, hands-on learner, Tara’s favorite classes have included Simple Robotics and Introduction to Computing for Engineers. Both are project-based courses with exciting opportunities to apply class materials in a real-world context. 

In her free time, Tara enjoys watching documentaries to learn about new topics. Most recently, she finished the eye-opening film The True Cost, which explores the human and environmental costs of the fast fashion industry. She also loves to play tennis, bake, and explore new places in Boston!