Engineering a Life of Impact

From the halls of Chatham Hall to the forefront of engineering research, Smith Pitman ’18 has turned curiosity into a career that blends innovation, problem-solving, and intellectual adventure. She is a researcher at Colorado State University and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory), developing mathematical models of biofuel processes. Smith holds a degree in environmental engineering and will graduate with a PhD in mechanical engineering this summer.

Her day-to-day combines independence with intellectual rigor. "I get to work remotely for the most part, which is nice. I spend a lot of time writing Python code using numerical methods and do simpler calculations in Excel," she explains. "I read a lot of research papers and write scientific methods and opinions for reports. I also make presentations for the Department of Energy and other stakeholders." Currently, she is building an AI digital twin of a biorefinery, translating complex scientific data into real-world solutions.

Smith’s journey began at Arizona State University, where she quickly discovered her passion for research. "I worked long hours, but I also took time to enjoy the college experience, and I studied abroad in Argentina," she says. The summer before her junior year, she joined Dr. Bruce Rittmann’s lab, researching anaerobic digestion, an important part of wastewater treatment. "I wrote a thesis on this topic and was ultimately named the valedictorian of environmental engineering for my graduating class," she recalls. A mutual connection led her to Colorado State for her PhD, where she discovered her talent for developing mathematical models and was later hired by the national lab to continue this work.

"The best part of what I do is the intellectual freedom and the independence I have. My bosses generally allow me to make my own schedule and explore the topics I want. Also, it feels rewarding to make scientific contributions." The hardest part, she admits, is the constant criticism. "At first, it is very difficult to dedicate yourself to your research, and to be constantly met with things you could have done better. You must complete a 2-hour oral exam for a panel of five professors who can ask you any question regarding relevant topics during that time." She has learned to embrace challenge: "Receiving criticism and difficult questions is a compliment and means that you have earned respect."

Smith credits Chatham Hall with preparing her for a male-dominated field. "I work in a heavily male-dominated field, and many times I am the only woman in the room. I have noticed that the experience of having all female peers at a formative age allows me to feel more confident in these situations. Fundamentally, at Chatham Hall, we did not learn to silence ourselves in the presence of men, which I notice is a common problem for other women in my field." She also highlights mentorship: "My senior year, my calculus professor encouraged me to pursue engineering at Arizona State based on his own experience. He told me that I would be suited for a PhD, and he was ultimately correct. Now, we are actually colleagues in the national laboratory system."

For students considering her path, Smith emphasizes embracing challenge and confusion. "Math is very important, and it is ok if it doesn’t make sense to you right now… It’s important to feel confused and to be comfortable with the confusion. In early engineering courses, many people pretend to know exactly what’s going on, but that’s actually impossible to know. Don’t let someone’s fake confidence make you feel like an imposter in the industry."

Outside of research, Smith balances wellness, creativity, and service. "To avoid stress about current events, I volunteer at a homeless day shelter once a week. I am the president of a social club for my engineering department, and I make electronic dance music on my computer." She also enjoys yoga and acupuncture and is getting married this June.

From Chatham Hall classrooms to national laboratories, Smith Pitman ’18 exemplifies the confidence, resilience, and leadership Chatham Hall seeks to inspire in every student.