Seeking to be ‘Engineers Without Borders,’ URI Students Working to Form Chapter

Kayla Kurtz made some friends while doing a project for Engineers Without Borders in Nicaragua in which she worked with farmers to improve their water supply for agriculture. (Photo courtesy of Kayla Kurtz)

By Neil Nachbar

With the goal of helping communities worldwide improve infrastructure challenges that affect their health and safety, students at the University of Rhode Island are attempting to form an Engineers Without Borders chapter.

The objective of the national organization Engineers Without Borders USA is to build a better world through engineering projects that empower communities to meet their basic human needs. If approved as an official university chapter, URI would join more than 250 active professional and student chapters across the United States.

“When I brought the idea to Dean Anthony Marchese, he immediately agreed it should be done,” said Joseph Goodwill, an assistant professor of environmental engineering. “Having administrative support is essential.”

Goodwill will serve as the chapter’s faculty advisor, but the person in the group who is most familiar with Engineers Without Borders is a student.

A student’s experience

Kayla Kurtz in front of clay hut in Uganda — Kayla Kurtz visited Uganda with the University of New Hampshire Student Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. She’s seen here sitting in front of a clay hut. Photo courtesy of Kayla Kurtz.

Kayla Kurtz, who is pursuing her doctorate in environmental engineering at URI, has been an active member of Engineers Without Borders USA for 14 years. She’s worked on projects in Uganda, Peru, and Nicaragua, and has held several leadership positions with the organization, including:

President of the New London County Professional Chapter
President of the Northeast Region
Vice President of the New London County Professional Chapter
Connecticut State Representative
President of the University of New Hampshire Chapter

“I joined Engineers Without Borders to use my engineering skills to improve the lives of people around the world,” said Kurtz, who is from Westerly. “I’ve remained with the organization for 14 years because of the people I met along the way, from the communities I’ve worked with to the colleagues around the U.S. who are also working to make the world a better place.”

Inspiring others

Kayla Kurtz water project in Uganda — In northern Uganda, Kayla Kurtz (right) worked with the University of New Hampshire Student Chapter of Engineers Without Borders on a potable water project. Photo courtesy of Kayla Kurtz.

Kurtz co-taught a course at URI in the spring 2022 semester on Humanitarian Engineering. In the course, she mentioned the Engineers Without Borders organization, which inspired Carrie Ellis, one of the undergraduates in the class.

“Engineers Without Borders is a profound organization, with student chapters at almost every major university,” said Ellis. “Considering the strength of our engineering program, I felt that URI should also have a student chapter.”

Ellis is majoring in civil engineering and Spanish, with minors in environmental engineering and mathematics. She also plays on the URI women’s soccer team.

After she graduates in spring 2023, Ellis plans to stay at URI to pursue her master’s degree in environmental engineering, with the intent of pursuing international development and humanitarian engineering work in the future.

“I’m frequently looking to bridge my academic work in meaningful ways,” said Ellis, who is from Hatfield, Massachusetts. “International development has sparked my interest because it allows me to apply my engineering and foreign language skills while improving the lives of those around the world.”

Gauging interest

URI Engineers Without Borders — Interest in forming a student chapter of Engineers Without Borders at URI has been strong. Some of the students are seen here at the group’s second meeting. Photo courtesy of Carrie Ellis.

Not knowing what to expect for a turnout, Ellis and Goodwill organized a kickoff event to gauge interest among students in forming a chapter. Close to 40 students showed up for the informational meeting on Sept. 12.

“The meeting went very well and it’s clear that we have a diverse group of students who are energized to start this Engineers Without Borders chapter,” said Goodwill.

Ellis is serving as the group’s president. Goodwill realizes that by the time official chapter status is achieved, Ellis, Kurtz and some of the other students will have graduated.

“There’s administrative work that has to happen when forming a chapter, such as filling out applications, opening accounts, developing a charter, etc.,” said Goodwill. “After seeing the energy in the room at the first meeting, I’m confident we will get it done. I’ve told the seniors that forming this group will be part of their legacy at URI and it will make a huge impact.”