Student Spotlight: Allison Chung
September 21, 2026
By Alba Garcia-Sarabia
Meet Allison Chung, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major whose creativity, leadership, and hands-on experiences have shaped her Georgia Tech journey. From leading Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma to gaining experience across mechanical design, woodshop operations, and industrial design at Gulfstream Aerospace, Allison has found ways to combine her love of engineering and art. In this Q&A, she shares what inspired her to pursue mechanical engineering, the experiences that have pushed her outside her comfort zone, and how she hopes to bridge engineering and industrial design in her career.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Allison Chung, and I am from Lawrenceville, Georgia. I'm a fourth-year mechanical engineering major minoring in industrial design.
Why did you choose to study at Georgia Tech?
Despite living in Georgia my whole life, I honestly didn’t know too much about Tech before visiting in high school. I had been on some college tours, but Tech stood out to me because of its vibrant campus. It’s rare to see a school that can balance academic rigor with a strong sense of community, and with it being so close to home, it was a clear decision.
How did you become interested in mechanical engineering?
I became interested in mechanical engineering in fifth grade. My sister was in middle school at the time, and I tagged along to her friend’s house when they were working on a Rube Goldberg Machine. It was so cool seeing how physically intuitive each step was, and I was even able to contribute ideas for the final task. I loved the combination of creativity and real-life application and grew to love engineering the more I learned about it. I’ve also always loved drawing, so having a way to bring my designs and ideas to life was a big selling point for me.
In your opinion, what is the best thing about your major?
I have to say the best thing about my major is definitely the people. One of the perks of being the largest engineering major is how many different people you get to meet, but I was surprised at how many of those people have become familiar faces. Especially now that I’m nearing the end of my undergraduate classes, it seems like everyone’s taking the same classes, and I’ve been able to befriend so many new people. Everyone I’ve met, including all of the faculty, is so passionate about what they’re pursuing and willing to help out, which has been really encouraging to me.
What clubs or after-school activities are you involved in?
I am currently the president of Tau Beta Pi (TBP), the Engineering Honor Society, and the secretary of Pi Tau Sigma (PTS), the Mechanical Engineering Honor Society. It’s been great being able to lead both in the Woodruff School and the College of Engineering, and despite sounding like very similar organizations, TBP and PTS have given me unique perspectives and experiences, all while connecting me with so many cool people. I also illustrate for Agora (a journal for Christian thought), go to a weekly Bible Study, and worked with Orchard nonprofit all of last year.
What did it mean to receive the Chair’s Ambassadors in Leadership and Service Fellowship, and what did the funding allow you to do?
Receiving the Chair’s Ambassadors in Leadership and Service Fellowship and being a representative of the Woodruff School was such a great experience. I was able to meet so many notable alumni and faculty, and I’ve been able to have so many inspiring conversations ranging from post-graduate education to leadership with people who have been in the industry for longer than I’ve been alive. In addition to the connections, the funding also allowed me more time to focus on my extracurriculars and classes, which really helped me get more involved in the organizations I am currently in leadership for.
Are there any classes you have taken at Georgia Tech that have been memorable?
Although it’s cliché, I would be lying if I didn’t say ME 2110 was my most memorable class. I love hands-on work, so having an entire class dedicated to working on a competitive robot was super fun. My section professor, Marty Jacobson, who is now the head professor of 2110, was such a great mentor to all of his students, and I was able to learn so much from the lab. I also took System Dynamics (ME 3017) last spring and really enjoyed it because of how applicable it is.
Was there a specific project, internship, co-op, research experience, or other hands-on experience that had a significant impact on you? What made it stand out?
I’ve been a Completions Engineering Co-op at Gulfstream Aerospace since the Fall semester of my second year at Tech. As a Gulfstream co-op, I get to be in a new department every rotation, so it’s like getting a different internship experience every time I go back. I’ve been through mechanical design, woodshop operations, and I just finished up my rotation in industrial design this summer.
My rotation through industrial design was an extra special one for me because it’s not a typical rotation option. I have always wanted hands-on experience in industrial design, especially as I am pursuing a minor in it, so I asked if it would be possible to have an industrial design rotation. I learned so much and was even able to create my own personal project with my mentor, Sal, through which I was able to get a condensed version of the entire design process of a new asset. It was super cool getting to actually experience industrial design full-time, and I was able to meet so many amazing people through it. This experience pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it has inspired me to pursue a role where I can be a design and engineering liaison.
What hobbies do you have?
I tend to pick up a lot of hobbies, mainly surrounding art or cooking/baking. Drawing is my default hobby, but I’ve been going to Paper and Clay more often in hopes of getting better at pottery, and I've gotten really into baking. I’ve made it a goal to host a bakery day out of my apartment at least once a year and have held four of them so far!
What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I co-own a cat named GSBI (giz-bee), which is an acronym for Gulfstream Session Building Interface. She is a 7-year-old shorthair who loves people more than anything and was a stray cat in Savannah that we took in during my first rotation at Gulfstream.
What do you look forward to doing in the future?
I look forward to seeing where my career takes me. My future plans have already changed so much since coming into college, and I can only imagine how much more they will change once I’m in graduate school and then enter the industry. I plan to pursue the design side of mechanical engineering, and I hope to work very closely with, if not directly in, industrial design. I’ll definitely miss being a student, but I’m excited to see where I end up.
What advice do you have for high school students thinking about coming to Georgia Tech?
Visit the campus and reach out to people who are currently here! I’ve gotten cold messages from seniors applying to college asking about my experiences at Tech, and it’s something I wish I did more of during college decision season. The environment of a college is so important, and you can learn so much from hearing first-hand experiences.
