SAE Senior Celebrations: Katarina Rodak

Posted: May 17, 2022

Katarina Rodak wants to connect people through transportation.

“I was inspired to pursue a degree in the mobility industry as I and most of the people I know drive as their main form of transportation,” Rodak said. “To work in mobility, you’re providing people with the freedom to travel to new opportunities and also allowing the transportation of goods and services that society needs to operate.”

As she worked toward a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU), Katarina has learned through internships with Daimler Trucks North America and Arcimoto about the diversity of mobility and all the ways people move themselves and goods from point A to point B. She’s also had the guidance of mentor and OSU’s SAE team faculty advisor Dr. Robert Paasch to provide meaningful learning opportunities.

“[Dr. Paasch] has provided me numerous opportunities to work with new technology and prepare us for industry,” Rodak said. “Our Baja team has selectable 4 Wheel Drive and our Formula team is now fully electric and driverless capable.

As Rodak looks to the future, she’s mapped out her first step, accepting a position at Rivian. She plans to advocate for electric vehicles, pulling them into the mainstream by working on solutions to make the technology more affordable and accessible.

During May, SAE is celebrating our graduating SAE Student Members by recognizing their accomplishments. We’re happy to see you achieve this milestone and can’t wait to see what you do next.