Mari Johnson De Tora

STEM Coordinator

Background 

I grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota and went to high school in Saint Paul, Minnesota where I played hockey, lacrosse, and tennis and also was in the band, marching band, and flute choir. I went to Hamline University right after high school and then continued my education in Colorado to complete my Masters of Science degree in Bioengineering. I now live in Colorado with my husband and blue heeler/whippet mix dog. 

Hamline Experience 

I majored in Applied Physics with Engineering Emphasis at Hamline. I played on the Women’s Hockey and Women’s Lacrosse teams where my position was the goalie. I also participated in undergraduate research for two years using concepts from physics and applying them to testing the strength of patients with a shoulder injury. I collaborated with Professor Jerry Artz, Professor Bruce Bolon, and John Alchemy, MD. This is when my passion for biomedical engineering really blossomed! My favorite classes at Hamline were Thermodynamics, Optics, and Innovation. 

Goals 

  • I want to inspire and empower young women to pursue their strengths in STEM and continue on their education or grow their careers in a STEM field. 
  • I want to continue my passion for physics and apply it in the medical field through innovation. 
  • I would love to continue my education one day, either in Medical School, or through a Doctorate program. 

Other Interesting Things 

  • I love finding new hikes to explore with my dog on the weekends. 
  • I am starting a kickboxing class soon! 
  • I recently learned how to crochet through self-teaching. 
  • I love baking and try to make a new recipe each holiday.