After graduation, Sabrina plans to return to Mastercard in New York City, joining the Advisors Client Services division full-time. She will work in the Business Experimentation consulting track, becoming an expert in Mastercard's proprietary data platform, which uses statistical simulation to support client recommendations — a perfect fit for the technical foundation she built through her industrial engineering education.
Discover how Sabrina's involvement at the university has influenced her growth.
What attracted you to the University of Miami?
I was drawn to the University of Miami for its balance of academic rigor and vibrant community life. The strong academic programs, combined with a welcoming and engaged student body, made it a perfect fit. I also fell in love with the campus the moment I visited.
What inspired you to choose your major(s)?
I've always had a passion for math and knew early on that I wanted to work in a business-related industry. Industrial engineering was the perfect intersection of technical problem-solving and business acumen. In the future, I hope to work on the technical side of industry, particularly in data analysis, while also contributing to strategic decisions. I want to not only perform the calculations but apply them in meaningful ways that drive impact within the organizations I work for.
What on-campus activities or organizations have you been involved in, and how have they impacted you?
I've served on the executive board of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) for the past three years. It's been a great way to connect with others in my major and expand my professional network. I'm especially proud of events like our annual Girl Scout Engineering Day, where we introduce young girls to STEM through fun and engaging activities. I also served as secretary on the Engineering Student Council, where I had the opportunity to be the voice of students in the College of Engineering. This role allowed me to advocate for student initiatives and foster greater engagement across various engineering disciplines. Both organizations helped me grow as a communicator and leader.
Who or what has had the greatest impact on you during your time at UM, and why?
One person who has deeply influenced my journey is Dr. Nina Miville. I first met her during my freshman year when I was considering switching from undecided engineering to industrial engineering. Since then, she's supported me at every step as a professor and an advisor to my executive board. While I tend to excel more naturally in technical areas, Dr. Miville has consistently challenged me to grow in people management, verbal and written communication, and leadership, skills that I know will be crucial to my success in industry. She's also instilled in me a deep appreciation for learning for its own sake, not just for the sake of grades or outcomes. Through her guidance, she's built a classroom environment where students genuinely connect with one another, and she's become not only a trusted mentor but also a vital resource and friend to me and many of my peers.
How has your time at UM prepared you for your future career and life goals?
UM has equipped me with both the technical expertise and the interpersonal skills needed to thrive in the professional world. It's helped me realize how important collaboration and communication are, especially in technical fields. I plan to carry these "soft skills," alongside my engineering education, into every stage of my career and life.
Where did you intern or work that helped prepare you for your career?
After my freshman year, I interned at Office Depot in an industrial engineering role focused on process optimization. That experience gave me my first real glimpse into corporate life and helped me connect classroom concepts to real-world applications. I actually landed that opportunity through IISE!
The following summer, I interned at Medtronic in quality engineering, where I developed strong skills in data analysis. Most recently, I interned at Mastercard in their Advisors Client Services division on a Performance Analytics Consulting Track. This role gave me direct exposure to consulting work and client communications, while allowing me to apply technical skills in performance analytics. Each experience built on the last and helped shape my career direction.
Can you share a favorite project, award, or accomplishment from your time at UM?
One of my proudest accomplishments has been working on research with Dr. Adam Myers, focused on improving efficiency at the University of Miami Health System. We examined how parallelizing stages of the OR process, like setup and anesthesia induction, could reduce overtime and generate cost savings. Our paper will be published with me as the first author and will be presented at the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery Annual Research Day. It's been an incredible opportunity to apply what I've learned to real-world challenges in healthcare.
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to return to Mastercard in New York City, where I'll be joining their Advisors Client Services division full-time. This time, I'll be working in the Business Experimentation consulting track, rather than in performance analytics. In this role, I'll become an expert in Mastercard's proprietary data platform, which leverages statistical simulation to support client recommendations. It's a perfect fit for the technical foundation I built through my industrial engineering education and gives me the opportunity to work collaboratively while making a data-driven impact.
What advice would you give to incoming students or those considering a major in engineering?
My biggest piece of advice is to take the initiative to introduce yourself to your classmates and professors early on. Engineering at UM is a tight-knit community—you'll often have the same professors and peers in your classes for all four years. Building strong relationships from the start will make it easier to ask questions, collaborate on projects, and feel supported throughout your journey.
Creating a sense of community in the classroom not only helps you academically but also makes coming to class something to look forward to. These are the people who will become your closest teammates, professional connections, and lifelong friends. Take the time to get to know them as you'll be better for it, both during your time at UM and well beyond.
