Halley Frailey, from Marshall, Illinois, will earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering on May 9. The four-year academic honors student embodies SIU’s tradition of seizing opportunity after completing three internships and serving as an officer on five student organizations. (Photo by Amber Ewsani)
May 07, 2026
SIU student shattering glass ceiling for female engineers
CARBONDALE, Ill. — In a field typically led by men, Halley Frailey is ready to take on the engineering industry and make way for more women. Focusing on women is a new outlook for the Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduating senior – she grew up surrounded by her brothers and their friends.
Frailey is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in marketing. Setting herself apart even more, she added an aerospace specialization just for fun.
“The aerospace specialization happened this semester,” said Frailey, who is from Marshall, Illinois. “I happened to look at our graduation requirements and I had fulfilled them, so I thought that I might as well have another title. Why not?”
In 2025, women made up 10% of employed mechanical engineers, according to the Society of Women Engineers. While she’s ready to break barriers now, as a freshman Frailey came to campus feeling a little unsure of herself in a new place nearly three hours away from home.
Connections are key
As an 11-year 4-H member, including participating in her freshman year at SIU, Frailey recognized the need to be engaged with her peers. She joined and served as an officer on several registered student organizations, including the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology and Mathematics Student Council; the Undergraduate Student Government; and The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
As if those groups and full-time classes didn’t keep her busy enough, Frailey became a member of SAE Saluki Baja her first year on campus. The group builds its own side-by-side, from creating the vehicle’s design on the computer to assembling the parts and welding the machine together, then racing other teams from around the world. Being a member reminded Frailey of her childhood and helped guide her decision to select mechanical engineering as her major.
“I’ve been around dirt-bike racing my entire life,” she said. “My little brother races and my dad helped to fix his bike countless times. At that point, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go into civil engineering or mechanical engineering. [Being on the Baja team] gave me the opportunity to see what my future career path could look like and apply what we learn in our classes to real life.”
Frailey still felt like something was missing. She wanted to make friends with other like-minded women on campus. She stepped outside of her comfort zone and joined the Sigma Kappa Sorority during the spring semester in her freshman year.
“I never had a lot of girlfriends, so being in a sorority really helped me build myself up and feel empowered,” said Frailey, who was a member of the sorority for four semesters. “It’s really special to me and it will forever hold a place in my heart because it helped me figure out who I wanted to be as a person.”
This newfound confidence inspired her to join and become heavily involved with the Society of Women Engineers, serving as president of the SIU chapter this year. It’s another feat high on her list of proudest accomplishments.
Gauging career pathways
The summer following her freshman year, Frailey received an internship at North American Lighting as a manufacturing engineer, learning some of the basics about the engineering industry and its inner workings.
The following summer, with more classes under her belt, Frailey accepted a more hands-on role as a resource industry operations and production engineering intern at Caterpillar Inc., where she specifically worked on the cab design team for the company’s mining equipment.
“I learned how to use CAD really well for a lot of my projects,” Frailey said. “I also became more familiar with industry standards and how you have to integrate those into your projects when a new standard comes out.”
With real-world engineering experience in her pocket, Frailey decided it was time to learn more about sales and marketing – so she added an internship at Nutrien Ag Solutions in agronomy retail. One task included taking crop samples and testing them in the lab to identify the nutrients the plants needed to thrive, giving Frailey some insight into the precise work her family puts in to yield the perfect harvest.
“I’ve been around farming my whole life, but there was so much about corn and soybeans that I didn’t know,” Frailey said. “It was so cool to step into my dad and grandpa’s lives to see farming from their point of view.”
Looking up to women in the field
During her time on campus, Frailey looked up to Sabrina Nilufar, an associate professor in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Materials Engineering, for her willingness to review difficult concepts with students until they truly grasp the materials.
“She is so smart and knowledgeable,” Frailey said. “Dr. Nilufar doesn’t want you to just get good grades. She wants you to really understand what you’re learning.”
On top of this, Frailey has a personal connection to Nilufar’s research, particularly her use of 3D printing to create viscoelastic substrates that guide stem cell fate. She explained that she’s amazed at this specific technology because of how her dad, who has been in remission since 2018 and received a stem cell transplant during treatment for leukemia.
“Without the stem cell transplant from his sister, I don’t know if my dad would still be here with us today,” Frailey said. “I think the idea of 3D printing stem organs for people is so amazing because it has the ability to change so many lives.”
In return, Nilufar recognizes Frailey as a student who prioritizes her grades, approaches her work with curiosity, and has strong values.
“She stands out not only for the quality of her grades, but for the care and thoughtfulness she brings to each assignment,” Nilufar said. “Beyond her academic performance, she asks insightful questions, participates meaningfully in discussions, and is willing to challenge herself with more complex material. On a personal level, Halley is respectful, kind, and easy to work with. She contributes positively to the classroom environment and shows consideration for both her peers and teachers.
Springing to help others
Nilufar isn’t the only one to notice Frailey as a stand-out student. Terrance Bishop, director of Success in Engineering through Excellence and Diversity, believes she embodies the college’s spirit of being engaged and giving back.
“In a sentence, Halley is the kind of student who not only shatters glass ceilings, but she also reaches back to pull up those behind her,” he said. “We in the College of Engineering, Technology and Mathematics are quite proud of her.”
Designing a future
Several companies have expressed interest in hiring Frailey, who earned academic honors all four years at SIU. The graduate credits the support she received during her time on campus as a component to her success and is ready to accept the position that best aligns with her goals.
On top of starting her career, Frailey is looking forward to spending more time with her family and planning a 2028 wedding with her high school sweetheart turned fiancé.