Alumni award winner says Binghamton University gave her new perspectives on engineering

Through the BOLD (Bearcats of the Last Decade) 10 Under 10 Awards, Binghamton University honors alumni who have graduated within the last 10 years, demonstrated a very high level of career achievement since leaving campus, and show great potential for future leadership.

Four of this year’s winners are alumni of the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. We asked them how Watson influenced their lives and career paths.

Katherine Frey ’20 is a systems engineer on the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) program at Northrop Grumman (NG) Space Systems. HALO is the first module that will form the Lunar Gateway, a space station in the moon’s orbit to host astronauts in lunar orbit as part of NASA’s Artemis mission.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, with a minor in sustainability engineering. During her time at Binghamton, she was a resident assistant and served as president of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), an organization that aims to support and uplift women in the engineering field. It was through her involvement with SWE at their annual national conference that she got her job at NG.

On the HALO program, Frey has had numerous roles since starting. She started as an engineer on the utilization team, dedicated to providing interfaces for payloads and robotics to operate on the module. Two years into this role, she was promoted to lead the team and serve as the primary point of contact for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and their Canadarm-3 to ensure autonomous robotic operations are possible on the HALO vehicle.

Through her work with CSA, she earned the NASA Silver Medal Achievement Award in 2023. The medal is awarded to government and non-government individuals by NASA Center directors for a stellar achievement that supports one or more of NASA’s core values.

The Binghamton University Alumni Association will present its 2025 Special Recognition Awards on Saturday, May 3, at the Binghamton Club.

What is it like receiving an award like this?

It is such an honor. I moved to Virginia after graduation for my job and I get so excited to have a chance to tell non-New Yorkers about Binghamton and the amazing four years I had. I am proud to be recognized as a Bearcat alumna.

How do you think your time at Watson set you up for success?

I was a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and served as president my senior year. It was such a privilege to be so involved with the amazing resources in the college outside of the classroom.

The Watson Career and Alumni Center, Advising Office and dean’s office team were filled with the most supportive and patient staff when I was trying to figure out what to do with my future. I came into the school intending to be a biomedical engineer, declared mechanical and sustainable engineering, and got a job in systems/aerospace. It is safe to say I was all over the place in figuring out where my interests were. They helped me to balance my major and minor class schedule, reviewed my resumes and helped SWE put on informative career development events. I can’t imagine my Watson experience without those teams.

Which Watson class or professor changed the way you thought about your area of study?

BME432: Ethics in Engineering, taught by Distinguished Service Professor George Catalano. I took this class as an elective for my minor in sustainable engineering, and it was eye-opening to see just how influential the role of the engineer is with the natural and man-made world. It taught empathy in design and understanding the impact that an engineer can have on the broader society.

Engineers change how we live. Everyday tasks, such as getting to work or making dinner, have been altered by an engineer’s idea, and this class put that concept — which seems like common sense — into perspective.

What are some of your favorite memories from your time at Binghamton?

Student organizations shaped my college experience. The community I was able to build and be a part of helped me get through the imposter syndrome of being a woman in engineering and gave me incredible opportunities to attend national conferences (where I got my job!) but also gave me some of my best friends!

The levity that a Cheese Club meeting brought me amid final projects was incomparable, despite how simple it was to just sit down and decide the winner between white vs. yellow cheddar. We are so lucky to have a school that fully embraces the college experience completely, so take advantage of it!

What advice would you give to current Watson students?

Take advantage of being at a university that emphasizes a liberal arts education. It is actually the reason I chose to attend Binghamton. I wanted a chance to learn outside of the box of required engineering classes and become a more holistic student. The chance to take a class from any department on campus and expand my worldview is something I don’t take for granted. It made me a better writer, a better listener and a better learner.