Emma Stonehouse

Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Major: Chemical Engineering
Class Year: 2024

How did you get interested in engineering?

I got interested in chemical engineering after taking a chemistry course with a pretty tough teacher in high school. Despite the rigor of the course, I still really enjoyed the subject material — that seemed like a good indication to me that I would enjoy studying the subject material, especially in the context of problem solving in engineering.

How did you end up choosing Drexel?

I had a lot of interest in Drexel due to the co-op program and the opportunity to learn more about chemical engineering through an industry context, but I ultimately decided to go because of the honors program and dance! During admitted students’ day, I got to hear about the interdisciplinary nature of the honors program and loved the idea of getting a well-rounded education by being a part of it. I was also able to get a backstage tour of Mandel theater during that weekend. I auditioned into the Drexel Dance Ensemble and was really excited to have the opportunity to dance with them without having to major in dance.

How did you get interested in dance?

I started dancing by accident in high school after I couldn’t take a theater class. I loved it as soon as I started! My dance teacher taught me modern dance and brought in many guest artists over my four years that exposed me to several other styles such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, breaking, and musical theater. I knew it was something that I could get good at or just enjoy exploring in all its different forms.

How do you balance time between studies and dance?

It’s definitely important to carve out time for both. That often looks like having scheduled time for dance, but often it also is an escape for me! It’s not as hard to balance since it’s something I enjoy doing — it can be a release to stretch, do conditioning, rehearse, or improv between classes or after a stressful homework session.

Do you think there are any similarities between dance and engineering?

There is definitely a similarity between dance and engineering in the way you solve problems creatively. In engineering that may look like figuring out a unique way to optimize a process. In dance that may look like trying to find a new pathway for a dancer on stage or create a particular shape with a group of dancers. In that sense, I think the skills I’m developing are definitely interchangeable between the two.