Margaret Boehle

9/9/2014

Margaret Boehle (BSEE '11) is an electrical engineer at POWER Engineers in Fort Worth, Texas, where she does consulting work for utility power companies in the field of transmission substation design.

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Margaret Boehle (BSEE ‘11) is an electrical engineer at POWER Engineers in Fort Worth, Texas, where she does consulting work for utility power companies in the field of transmission substation design. This interview was first published in the Fall 2014 issue of Resonance (opens as a PDF).

Favorite ECE class?

ECE 444, commonly known as the Fab Lab. Although I haven’t gone into the field, IC fabrication is fascinating! I wish I could have taken more lab classes while at Illinois.

What professor had a particularly strong influence on your life?

Professor Overbye taught ECE 476, Power Systems Analysis. He let me register a few weeks late in my last semester — that class is the reason I work in substation design.

What is one of your favorite quotes?

“Structural engineering is the art of molding materials we do not wholly understand into shapes we cannot precisely analyze, so as to withstand forces we cannot really assess, in such a way that the community at large has no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance.” – Dr. A.R. Dykes (I think the sentiment is the same for all engineers, not just structural.)

What is your favorite form of exercise?

Running, although only since my last year at Illinois. I realized I needed to get into shape after sprints for the bus left me exhausted. Now I try to do two or three 5k runs each year.

What’s in your fridge?

Fruit, vegetables, tofu, eggs, cheese, wine, and hard cider. I cook a lot, so there are usually also plenty of leftovers to take to work for lunch.

Are you a morning or night person?

I am a night person struggling to become a morning person. My job has a firm 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

What was your favorite childhood television program?

“Arthur.”

Where would you like to visit?

I have a goal to visit all the major league baseball parks. So far I’ve only been to three: U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox), Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs), and Globe Life Park (Texas Rangers). Next will probably be Coors Field in Denver.

Are you mostly a clean or messy person?

I am somewhere in between. I have to work at being organized, but I really like being able to find things when I need them!

If you could witness any event past, present, or future, what would it be?

Future: first landing on Mars by humans.

This story first appeared in the fall 2014 issue of Resonance, ECE ILLINOIS' biannual magazine.

 


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This story was published September 9, 2014.