Margelle Kyle

Margelle Kyle, a junior in mechanical engineering from Houston, is making an impact. She is a Cupola Student Ambassador, guiding future engineering students to the Plains, and she works with biomechanics to meet a critical need for those with Dropped Head Syndrome.

Why Auburn

“I toured a lot of schools my junior and senior year of high school, but Auburn really stuck out to me. I saw how involved and friendly everyone was. Alongside pursuing mechanical engineering, I aspired to achieve this during my college experience. Auburn effectively promoted how much I could get involved on campus, both inside and outside of engineering. So that told me I could have it all at Auburn.”

Why Engineering

“I fell in love with physics in my junior year of high school. I love knowing how the world around me works, and that led me to mechanical engineering. I’ve learned a lot about machines, and the projects I’ve worked on have reinforced my decision. The internships I’ve had were also great experiences that helped me learn about the industry and how it works.”

Dropped Head Syndrome Project

“I’ve always been interested in biomechanics and getting to help people. I believe that’s one of my primary responsibilities as an engineer — to improve society and create things that are worth people’s time. Last year, I received an email about a volunteer position to create a brace for people with Dropped Head Syndrome. The condition affects the muscles of the upper back and prevents people from lifting their head. I joined the team and helped create three different iterations of a brace. We conducted extensive research into various materials and mechanisms to determine the most effective approach, and we spent many months working on it. We’re hoping to get together again to create a final version of the product. I’ve learned a lot more about the Auburn family through this project, and I’ve gotten to see the positive impact I can make on other people’s lives with engineering.”

Future plans

“I’m planning to graduate a semester early, in December 2026. After that, I’ll be looking for mechanical engineering jobs. My goal is to help people and improve society, so I’m looking for any opportunity to do that. But my dream job would be in biomechanics. I love being able to see first-hand the impact of the product that I create.”

Advice for prospective engineering students

“Auburn wants you to succeed. We’re all trying to succeed, and seeing the Auburn family through that lens is so important because engineering is difficult. You’re going to have strengths and weaknesses in each class, but being able to collaborate and share your strengths with others can leave a great impact.”