Kathryn Solliday

Kathryn Solliday says she has dreamed of attending Arizona State University for as long as she can remember. With both of her parents having attended ASU, her choice felt certain.

She has always been interested in STEM, but it wasn’t until she discovered human systems engineering that she truly found her place.

“I’m fascinated by health sciences and technology,” she says. “I considered many types of engineering. I was planning to major in biomedical engineering, but then discovered my interest in psychology and aversion to physics. Human systems engineering seemed to satisfy both!”

The major clicked immediately, showing her that STEM could be about helping people feel supported, included and empowered. It aligned not only with her academic interests but with how she wants to shape the world.

A Nina Mason Pulliam scholarship recipient, Solliday appreciates how human systems engineering bridges the gap between people and technology, creating systems that are functional, useful and inclusive. She enjoys analyzing how people interact with systems and discovering small design changes that lead to big improvements in everyday experiences.

Since her first semester, Solliday has been a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

“I have served on the officer team for two semesters so far as the undergraduate representative,” she says. “I served on several ad hoc committees for the society at ASU in preparation for the 2025 HFES ASPIRE conference, and I was honored to speak as a panel member at the conference on accessible design in various industries.” 

For Solliday, being a woman in engineering, especially a disabled woman, is a meaningful part of her identity. Her own experiences navigating accessible and inaccessible environments have shaped her interest in how design decisions can either empower people or exclude them.

“Having diversity and inclusion in STEM fields is vital to innovation,” Solliday says. “After I acquired my disability, there were people who doubted my ability to pursue higher education. I wanted to prove that I was capable of earning a degree and show other women and people with disabilities that they are capable.”

Preparing for the conference gave her hands-on experience collaborating with industry and academic partners, and speaking on the accessible design panel gave her the confidence to see herself as a leader in the field. 

After graduation, Solliday will complete her master’s degree in human systems engineering through ASU’s Accelerated Master’s degree program before pursuing her career goals.

“I aim to create a more universally accessible world by designing communities to be inclusive for everyone,” Solliday says.

Favorites

Hobby: Playing card/board games
Band: The Beatles
TV show: Psych
Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy
Activity: River rafting

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ fall 2025 class.

Written by Erik Wirtanen