May 10, 2026
Mizzou offered Sara Dodson a rich environment where she could build on her passion for helping organizations and people work better.
Born in Boston, Sara Dodson grew up in St. Louis. She graduates in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and a minor in journalism. After graduation, she will return to Boston to join Bain & Company as an associate consultant.
I grew up loving two things: math and people.
For a long time, I struggled to see how those two interests could come together in a meaningful career. Business didn’t feel technical enough, and engineering often carried a stereotype of being purely technical and less people oriented. Industrial and systems engineering felt like the perfect intersection: an engineering discipline that focuses on optimizing systems, improving processes and ultimately helping people and organizations work better. And, if I’m being honest, my dad is an industrial engineer, too. He likes to joke that I just wanted to follow in his footsteps.
During my time at Mizzou, I’ve been involved in a variety of organizations.
I played on the Mizzou Rugby team, was a member of the Society of Women Engineers, and served as vice president of Alpha Pi Mu, an honor society for Industrial and Systems Engineering students. My most meaningful involvement, however, has been with Salt Company, a Christian campus ministry. My faith is the most important part of my life, and being part of Salt has helped me grow closer to Jesus while also forming some of my closest friendships. Off campus, I ran a lawn care business, refereed football, and volunteered in Africa, where I taught math and science and shared my faith with girls living in a safe home.
After graduation, I will be moving to Boston to join Bain & Company as an associate consultant.
In this role, I’ll work with teams to help organizations solve complex business problems — everything from improving operational efficiency to shaping long-term strategy. What excites me most about consulting is the combination of analytical problem-solving and working closely with people. It’s a natural extension of what I’ve studied: understanding systems, identifying inefficiencies and creating practical, impactful solutions.
Your experience is ultimately what you make of it.
Going to office hours, building relationships with professors and peers and being intentional about your path makes all the difference. There’s no single right way to do engineering. You really can shape your own experience.
It may sound cliché, but I truly believe that more is possible than you think. If there’s something you want, go after it. College is full of opportunities — you just have to take advantage of them. Use your resources, invest in relationships and be intentional about how you spend your time.