For Maddie Dougherty, college isn’t just about learning—it’s also for helping others learn as well.
The fourth-year mechanical engineering major’s ODI journey has primarily been with Scholarship and Supplemental Academic Services (S-SAS), where she serves as a peer educator, tutoring in math and physics.
“It’s been really fulfilling to be a tutor at ODI,” Dougherty commented. “I started tutoring my freshman year when my neighbor needed a little extra help in her math courses. We became friends over the years, and when she learned that ODI was looking for tutors, she encouraged me to apply.”
The Cleveland native also teaches outside of Hale Hall as a TA for introductory engineering courses.
“The best part is always seeing when something clicks,” she explained. “It’s fun when I’m able to relate the concepts to something in the real world, like driving cars when I’m teaching acceleration. That often puts it into perspective for students, and it’s great to see them build that understanding.”
While she enjoys tutoring others, Dougherty also has a passion for learning that stems from a childhood interest in coding.
“My school started a robotics club in middle school. The first day I could, I signed up, thinking it would be interesting,” Dougherty noted. “As soon as I did that, my dad planted the idea of ‘Oh, she’s going to be a mechanical engineer,’ and that stuck with me. Since then, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”
Outside of the classroom, Dougherty fuels her love of engineering by working with EcoCAR, a student organization that competes to transform donated automobiles into more efficient hybrid-electric vehicles. She also completed a co-op with the Naval Nuclear Laboratory in Pittsburgh in Spring 2023, assisting in the continual support of nuclear energy for the navy.
“I was able to work on some really hard technology and coding problems. I was doing calculations and solving problems that I had no experience in yet,” Dougherty stated. “That was intimidating, but they were supportive and patient, and they taught me everything I needed to know.”
Following her graduation from The Ohio State University this December, Dougherty will return to the Naval Nuclear Laboratory as a full-time employee. She is also considering a training program that would allow her to earn a master’s degree while working at the organization’s various locations in New York, South Carolina, and Idaho.
Dougherty now looks ahead to receiving her degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in computer and information science, but that hasn’t stopped her from reflecting on her Buckeye journey.
“If I could, I would tell my past self to take it easy,” Dougherty said. “You don’t need to be in ten different clubs to stand out for an internship, and you don’t need to have an internship every single summer. Just relax, take your classes, work hard, and everything will work out.”