After touring the University Park campus, Nicole Reed Fry ’05 ’08g knew that Penn State was the right university for her. I thought: “The campus is beautiful, and Penn State offers everything. If I can’t find what I’m looking for here, I probably won’t find it anywhere.”
She started her college career undecided on her major, initially leaning toward science courses with an end goal of going to medical school. However, this path changed in her first semester. “My freshman seminar was in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) with a meteorology professor, Dr. Dennis Thomson. His ideas and the College’s mission resonated with me. It was that class that truly solidified my journey and future.”
Nicole became very engaged as a student, participating in several organizations within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, including the Student Council and the Total Engagement with Earth and Mineral Sciences (TEEMS), the college’s first-year orientation program. “Connecting with students, faculty, staff, and administration in activities that supported the college and our community was very rewarding,” says Nicole. “Seeing others give and volunteer was inspiring, and I knew I wanted to do the same.”
In the spring of 2005, Nicole graduated with honors, earning her bachelor’s degree in environmental systems engineering with a minor in energy business and finance. She stayed at Penn State to focus on the energy industry, earning her master’s degree in energy and geo-environmental engineering in 2008.
Nicole’s first job after completing her degrees at Penn State was at the United States Department of Energy within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Program. “As a young professional, it was thrilling to live and work in Washington, D.C.! I had many opportunities during those years, including a one-year rotation with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, before coming back to the Department of Energy to work in the Building Technologies Program,” Nicole shares. “I loved my time in DC and all the exposure and learning the job provided, but I had always wanted to go to business school, so I moved to Colorado to pursue an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business.”
While there, Nicole focused on finance, entrepreneurship, and energy, and founded a sustainability startup with several other graduate students. “It was exciting, and I learned a lot from that experience, even though the startup didn’t translate to a full-time job,” she reflects.
Nicole started working in the energy practices of a global consulting firm during her second year of business school. “Over the past ten years I have grown into project leadership and account management roles. I never imagined I would stay in energy consulting for so long, but I love the variety of work and the collaboration with clients and my team. It is very fulfilling to help utilities navigate the energy transition towards a more resilient and sustainable future.”
As she was establishing her career, Nicole still found time to remain engaged with Penn State. “I stayed connected to the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences after graduation and started volunteering to speak at events about the type of work I was doing for the federal government. The students were very interested in that,” she says. She later joined the Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS) board. “I enjoyed the opportunity to interact with other alumni and support the College. While on the board, I was involved in a letter writing campaign for prospective students, developed new ideas for engaging young alumni, and launched a mentorship program.”
Nicole went on to serve as a mentor for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and Schreyer Honors College and served as an external advisor for the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. “Given my role in energy consulting and experience working with utilities, I see firsthand how the industry is evolving and facing new challenges. The problems we tackle today are very different from those of a decade ago. It has been rewarding to share my experiences and collaborate with the department to help better prepare our graduates for these changes.”
Nicole continues to help the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences by serving on their fundraising committee for the current campaign. “Through these roles, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with and learning from amazing students, genuine and generous alumni, and passionate faculty and staff.”
Nicole benefited immensely from the support of others through scholarships, mentoring, and alumni engagement, which she believes was critical to her success. “I want to do the same for others where I can. It’s a fulfilling endeavor and a lot of fun!” Mentoring students is one of her favorite ways to give back. “I think that telling students my story, about the decisions I’ve made throughout my education and career and how I’ve gotten to where I am now, is reassuring and builds their confidence in making their own decisions. It is going to look different for everyone, but I can help them decide how to navigate their next steps and what is best for them by sharing my personal experiences.”
When opportunities arise to mentor women, Nicole has found it especially rewarding. “Supporting women is something that is important to me both personally and professionally. I believe it’s important for women to see examples of other women growing professionally and giving back, and I’m honored to do what I can to embody that.”
Throughout her childhood, Nicole’s parents were active in their community and participated in many fundraising events. “I’m from a relatively small town, and my parents were small business owners,” she says. “Their values were evident in their daily life, business conduct, and interactions with people. My mother organized community events and contributed to local fundraising, and my dad has been active in the Red Cross. Their example inspired me to give back to the communities and organizations I care about and is something that has always stuck with me.”
Nicole continued following in her parents’ footsteps while at Penn State by participating in philanthropic efforts such as THON™. “When I was on the EMS Student Council, I brought a group of students back to my hometown in Sharon, Pennsylvania, and my parents hosted the entire group,” she remembers. “We spent the weekend raising money around my hometown for THON. It was such a nice way to connect my home and school communities. That’s one of my favorite memories.”
In 2018, Nicole received the Penn State Alumni Association Alumni Achievement Award for her professional achievement and commitment to the Penn State community. “I am deeply appreciative to have been selected by Penn State for that award recognition so early in my career,” she says. “It was an incredible experience, and I spent the weekend getting to know the other awardees and hearing about the amazing things they were doing. I feel they went above and beyond for the awardees and I’m grateful that Penn State acknowledges and celebrates its alumni.”
Nicole was also recognized as a 125th Anniversary Fellow by the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences in 2021. “It’s brought me so much joy to be able to stay connected, give back, and interact with other Penn Staters.”
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