AHA Inspired Alumna to Pursue STEM

Demitria “Demi” Poulos thought a career in engineering was out of reach, until she experienced the nationally-acclaimed STREAM curriculum (STEM plus religion and art) and supportive faculty at the Academy of the Holy Angels. Today, Poulos (AHA ’17) is the only female Ph.D. candidate in the biomedical engineering program at the University of Tennessee.

This successful scientist recently addressed Ms. Jing Loo’s engineering class, where she made her decision to pursue a career in STEM.

“I was a part of the first engineering class at AHA with Ms. Loo, and it significantly influenced my field of interest,” Poulos said. “Before AHA, I thought I was so terrible at math that I was discouraged from even considering engineering as a possible career path. With the help of Ms. Loo, Ms. (Sheila) Wroblewski, and many of the other teachers in the math department, I began to understand and enjoy problem-solving and analytical thinking.

“Ms. Loo was able to help me turn this into a career goal. In her engineering class I was able to combine my problem-solving and creative skills, and was encouraged to be innovative when exposed to challenges. I quickly realized that this was what I was meant to do.”

During her senior year at AHA, Poulos was considering a career in medicine or criminal psychology, but Loo’s engineering class inspired her to apply to engineering programs.

“Becoming a woman in STEM is one of the things I am most proud of today, and I could not have accomplished this without the guidance from Ms. Loo,” Poulos shared. “Although the number of women engineers is growing, it is still a male-dominated field, but I was never discouraged by this. During my time at AHA, I saw that young women at the school were always empowered, and AHA helped us build self-confidence and independence, all of which have helped me get to where I am today.’

After her graduation from AHA, she attended Virginia Tech, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering science and mechanics with a minor in mathematics. Immediately afterward, she began pursuing her Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at the University of Tennessee, where she received her master’s in biomedical engineering after her second year.

Poulos currently serves as a teaching assistant in the department of mechanical, aerospace, and biomedical engineering. She is also a graduate research assistant. Her research takes place in the cardiovascular biomechanics lab, and focuses on the evaluation of surgical devices for treating acute ischemic events.

“Her dedication and accomplishments speak volumes about her commitment to breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field,” Loo said. “Demi was a standout student in my first-year engineering class at Holy Angels, and it was truly gratifying to see how far she has come since then…I am extremely proud of Demi and her outstanding achievements. Her visit not only provided valuable insights for my current students, but also served as a source of inspiration for all of us. It’s wonderful to see our alumnae making such significant contributions to their respective fields.”

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girls’ school in Bergen County. While AHA is steeped in Catholic tradition, this prestigious school serves young women from many cultural and religious backgrounds. AHA’s current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.