Holly Trisch
For Holly Trisch, engineering has always been about more than just equations and technical designs. A civil engineer by trade, a researcher by passion and an educator by calling, Trisch has found a new way to help others discover the possibilities of engineering, one elementary-aged reader at a time.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Florida State, Trisch began her career as a transportation engineer, designing roads. She later earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Alaska Anchorage while working fulltime for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She enjoyed her master’s program research so much that she began considering how to expand her impact beyond engineering practice.
That opportunity came through ɫƵ’s fully doctoral program in engineering education. As a military spouse, Trisch valued the flexibility and support the program provided as she and her family moved from state to state and eventually overseas. While working on her doctorate from 2022-25, she and her family lived in Oklahoma and later Spain, yet she remained connected to her ɫƵ mentors and program.
“The program really taught me how to be a stronger, independent researcher. I truly feel like ɫƵ provided that for me,” said Trisch, who now lives in Syracuse, Utah, and is completing postdoctoral work remotely at MSU’s Social Science Research Center through a grant with the American Society of Engineering Education.
Her doctoral work also opened a door she had not expected: K–12 engineering outreach. Through her research with pre-service teachers, Trisch saw that many elementary educators lacked the time, confidence and knowledge needed to incorporate engineering into their classrooms. Studies have shown that early introduction to STEM fields boosts student interest in science careers, so she began exploring how literacy could provide a natural pathway for introducing engineering to young students.
That idea became “Juno in the Lab,” a children’s book inspired by Trisch’s own chocolate Labrador, Juno. In the first book, Juno explores the engineering wonders she encounters on a walk, including roads, signs and other everyday features.
“The goal is not simply to encourage children to become engineers,” Trisch said, “but to help them recognize that engineering is all around them and develop the curiosity and critical-thinking skills to ask questions about the world.”
She is self-publishing the book and developing associated educational activities called “Juno Investigates” to help educators integrate engineering into their reading and writing curriculum. Her efforts also continue this work at the SSRC through the center’s connections with rural and STEM educators.
Trisch’s experience has shown her that an engineering background can open doors to meaningful work well beyond traditional roles.
“I just knew I loved research and wanted to make a difference through it,” she said. “Now, not only am I a researcher, but I’ve become an author and an educator.”
