Next-gen engineer: Gannon University student hopes to reinvent approach to field

One in a series of articles and columns about Erie-area women in leadership during Women's History Month.

For Elizabeth Kuhar, engineering is far more than solving complex differential equations.

Kuhar, a senior at Gannon University who is studying mechanical engineering, approaches the field with a communications-first mindset. Whether it's talking through how to make production lines more efficient or explaining why one design works better than another, the Erie native is thinking about how to help others understand her work.

"I want to be able to go out and communicate these technical ideas in a way that would be understood by other people," Kuhar, 22, said. "I’m excited to see the different opportunities I’m going to have and see the impact I can have merging engineering with people."

For Kuhar, pairing her communication skills with her engineering abilities has allowed her to lead an organization on campus, solve real-world problems for internships and secure a position with John Deere manufacturing company following graduation.

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Hands-on manufacturing experience with Ellwood Crankshaft Group

Kuhar's love for mechanical engineering stemmed from the enjoyment she found through her math, science and art classes.

Her passion for engineering was solidified when her father, Mark Kuhar, a lawyer with the Erie law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, helped set up tours of manufacturing facilities around the region for her to check out.

Those companies included Channellock, a hand tools manufacturer based in Meadville and Ellwood National Forge, a supplier of large precision machined steel components based in Irvine, Warren County.

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Kuhar's exposure to Ellwood National Forge later led to an internship with its sister company, Ellwood Crankshaft Group, during the summer of 2022.

"They really sparked my interest in manufacturing," Kuhar said. "I learned a ton about manufacturing and the different machinery they have there, and I loved interacting with the production workers."

Throughout the internship, Kuhar worked on several projects, but her greatest contribution was designing new doors for the furnaces that created bails, cylindrical steel bars, similar to the handle or band of a bucket, commonly used on oil rigs.

"When I was thinking of my design I talked a lot with the engineers but also the production workers. I spent a lot of time with them going through different bail bendings so I could get a better understanding of what to put into my design because it had to be able to work for all different sizes," Kuhar said.

Kuhar's design included a lattice-like covering meant to prolong the life of the insulation used in the doors. She said her design also created a safer, more time-efficient environment for the workers.

"I enjoyed the feeling knowing that it would save the workers more time and helped with the safety," Kuhar said. "I also appreciated them allowing me that freedom and also trusting me in constructing something they use in their actual production."

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Leading other women engineers

Equally important to Kuhar's development has been her involvement with Gannon's chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. She has served as president of the group, which has about 25 members, for the past two years.

"I first took on the role as a challenge to myself because I knew it was a really good skill to have, being able to lead a group," Kuhar said. "But now I’ve really been inspired by seeing all the other people who help out and I want to get people excited about engineering and see all the opportunities there are with the group."

Kuhar oversees planning for the organization's flagship event, which is a national conference for women in engineering and technology held every fall.

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Karinna Vernaza, dean of Gannon's College of Engineering and Business, said Kuhar has contributed greatly to the club as president.

"(The organization) has been quite successful in the last few years, even after COVID, engaging students to attend events, especially the national conference," Vernaza said. "(Kuhar's) been great at planning that and keeping connections with some of the alums in the area who come and tell (the club) about different experiences they’ve had or how to navigate a job or just the networking environment, so I think it's been very positive to have her in the role."

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Post-grad job secured with John Deere

After graduation Kuhar is moving to Dubuque, Iowa, to work for John Deere as an assembly manufacturing engineer.

Kuhar said she has mixed feelings about leaving Erie.

"It kind of comes in waves," she said. "I get excited and then nerves hit me a bit, but before I signed the offer they allowed me to go out and visit, so I got a tour of the facility and also the town itself, and that helped a lot with being more comfortable."

Despite the nerves that come with such a big move, Kuhar is looking forward to what's next.

"I’m really excited about being able to make an impact to help a company and workers, because I love making things more efficient, safer and just interacting with people," Kuhar said. "I’ve thought about potentially down the road doing some customer interaction with them or management of some sort because I love being that connection between the technical side and everyday people."

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Baylee DeMuth can be reached at 814-450-3425 or bdemuth@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @BayleeDeMuth.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Gannon University young leader wants to help engineering field evolve