Kate Wilson

Kate Wilson is on track to graduate with a bachelor’s in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the spring 2025. She is from Nashville, past president of Auburn’s chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and broke her family’s Ole Miss generational curse.  

Why Auburn? 

"I honestly decided pretty last minute. It turns out, a lot of my decisions seem to follow that pattern. I came from Nashville and started at Harpeth Hall, a fantastic all-girls school. While I was there, I met a few people who went on to Auburn, and I really liked them. That’s how I first heard about Auburn. At the time, I was deciding between five different schools, still unsure of what I wanted to do. As the spring semester went on, I realized I had to make a choice about where to go in the fall. I knew Auburn had a great engineering program, and the people I’d met here were amazing. There were a lot of factors that drew me in, but in the end, I just decided, 'I’m going to Auburn!' I never even toured, and I haven’t looked back since." 

Why Civil and Environmental Engineering? 

"When I first came here, I started in electrical engineering. I know it's tough, and props to anyone who’s doing it — it’s a great field. But back in high school, I was really passionate about renewable energy, especially solar power. I did a lot of research on it, and when I got here, I thought electrical engineering was the path for me. But once I got into the classes, I realized that while I could’ve done it, my true interests aligned more with civil engineering. It felt like a better fit for what I wanted to do, and it also matched my strengths more. Switching to civil was an easy decision, and I’ve really enjoyed it." 

Research Interests? 

"I'm working on a green infrastructure project that focuses on permeable pavement and stormwater management. I got involved with Dr. (Francis) O’Donnell’s lab, where I’m working under a graduate student. Our goal is to study the components of green infrastructure and permeable pavement, specifically looking at how effective it is at removing toxins and metals from water runoff." 

Extracurriculars? 

"I remember going to a meeting with the previous president, Emily Doody — she’s amazing and has been such a role model for me. During the meeting, she asked, 'Who wants to be the captain of Sustainable Solutions? Who’s in?' I raised my hand, not really knowing what I was getting myself into. It’s a national competition with the ASCE team, so there’s a lot of work involved, but I volunteered and absolutely loved it. A few months later, when elections came around, I found myself thinking, 'You know what? I’m going to go for it.' I ran for the position, and everything’s been history ever since. I’ve loved every minute of it." 

To learn more about Wilson, check out her interview on the award-winning #GINNing podcast.