30 MOMENTUM • VIRGINIA TECH MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
ALISHA KONST ’ 17 NAMED A “ WOMAN BREAKING THE MOLD 2020 ”
A 2017 mechanical engineering graduate has been recognized by Plastics News as one of its “ Women Breaking the Mold ” for 2020 . The recognition celebrates the contributions of women professionals in the plastics industry .
Alisha Konst graduated with a bachelor ’ s degree in mechanical engineering , completing a journey that began in her family ’ s garage . Growing up in Botetourt County , Virginia , she was constantly in the garage working on engines with her dad . Two Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a 1956 Ford Pickup provided her first glimpse into the inner workings of automobiles , sparking her curiosity to more deeply understand how things work .
During her senior year , Konst joined a senior design team focused on designing and building a large submarine-towed module to transport , deploy , and recover large displacement unmanned undersea vehicles . While her interest in vehicles propelled her into that group , her role on the team didn ’ t include working on engines . She worked with several other students on the design of the module , spending most of her time calculating drag coefficients and working with carbon fiber weave patterns used to make the hull of the module stronger .
This project , forged by the classroom learning that brought her to that point , launched a fresh set of interests . After she graduated , Konst looked at several career paths , eventually settling on one that pulled together both her mechanics experience and senior design project skills . Today , she works for the MAAG Group as research and development manager in the Eagle Rock , Virginia , plant . Her branch produces large plastic processing equipment .
“ Had I not had that experience in senior design , I don ’ t know if I would have done as well . The ability to come up with a plan and think through problems was all a part of senior design .”
Konst found early success in a company that actively pursues talent , and was also fortunate to find herself among mentors