This spring marked a historic milestone for the College of Engineering at Boise State University. Brooke Heller became the university’s first-ever graduate to earn a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering during the May 2025 commencement.
Launched in 2024, the interdisciplinary Ph.D. program was designed to break down traditional academic silos, encouraging students to explore new frontiers across civil, mechanical and other engineering disciplines. Heller’s journey at Boise State reflects this approach, tackling challenges beyond traditional educational barriers.
“Being the first graduate is exciting and humbling,” Heller said. “It reflects not just my hard work, but the university’s willingness to invest in new ideas and support students who want to push boundaries.”
Heller, like many college students in the strenuous STEM courses needed to finish a degree, found herself struggling with advanced engineering courses, shaking her confidence and her aspirations of going to graduate school. So Heller pursued a unique interdisciplinary path for her master’s degree, intertwining her interests in how people learn with her engineering background.
“There were moments I doubted myself, but the opportunity to integrate my passions into my work has been transformative and empowering,” Heller said. “But Boise State gave me a place to grow into a confident researcher. I had mentors who encouraged me to lead, to publish, to present. That kind of support makes all the difference.”
Heller’s path to a doctorate wasn’t a straight line. During her studies, she navigated many personal transitions including getting married, moving across the state, and focusing on her career opportunities after obtaining her bachelor’s degree. While initial funding to help her explore her graduate studies was hard to come by, her connection to Krishna Pakala guided her into her graduate studies, beginning with her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.
Heller met Pakala, an associate professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering, during her undergraduate years. He taught multiple courses she completed. Pakala and his co-investigators’ research through the National Science Foundation focuses on new approaches to engineering education, an avenue that Heller herself faced challenges in, but also created an avenue for further exploration.
“Brooke’s perseverance, curiosity, and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on our academic community,” Pakala said. “As not only my first Ph.D. graduate, but the first in her family [to receive a Ph.D.] and the first of the new Ph.D. in Engineering program, she has set an inspiring precedent. It’s been a privilege to mentor her, and I look forward to seeing the many ways she’ll continue to lead in her life.”
Through storytelling workshops in engineering classrooms, Heller’s research alongside Pakala has focused on improving engineering students’ sense of belonging, identity and persistence through crafting personal narratives in STEM-related fields of study.
“I knew when I started this journey three years ago that the stories we tell ourselves matter, it’s one of the reasons I was so excited to work on this grant and research,” Heller said. “I spent endless hours over the course of my studies diving into how stories shape us. Something as simple as a story can impact our well-being and our actions.”
Heller’s advice to students who wish to pursue an advanced degree or graduate school is simple. “Make sure you have an advisor who is in your corner,” she said. “Throughout my entire academic career, Dr. Pakala has been a supportive and generous advisor, mentor and friend – all while continuing to push me to grow outside of my comfort zone. He has always rooted for my success.”
Learn more about Pakala and Heller’s NSF-sponsored research, “Embedding Personal Narratives in Engineering Courses to Improve Engineering Student Success.” To explore the College of Engineering’s newest Ph.D. program, visit boisestate.edu/engineeringphd.