91ĢĘ²®»¢ fosters a community where students are inspired to lead, innovate and learn skills to direct their own unique paths and make a real difference in the world.
Discover the stories of three remarkable students from the Class of 2025 who are shaping a better tomorrow through their work on national security, business and improving health care.
JULIA RED WING USES CHALLENGES AS A CHARGE TO CREATE BETTER HEALTH CARE
When it comes to wrestling with health care and economic crises and the harrowing impact both have on families, Minnesota native Julia Red Wing has become an expert by necessity. Her sister, nephews and father all suffer from debilitating health and special needs issues. As a young caregiver, she experienced firsthand the emotional, physical and economic drain.
But with the support and experiences she has had at 91ĢĘ²®»¢, the and double major is using her circumstances as motivation to make an impact.
āI am passionate about fixing a health care system that should be uplifting people,ā she said. āMy dream in life would be to end generational trauma for my family and for others. I want to be that big turning point.ā
HEALTH CARE WITH HEART
Red Wingās ultimate goals are to use positions in health care management to increase efficiency and fairness among underserved, rural, Indigenous and low-income populations. And sheās already doing that with an internship-turned-job as a project coordinator for Covalus Consulting, a company that specializes in opening hospitals.
āJulia has seen firsthand how systems in our country make it challenging for those with limited health literacy or access to reach their full potential. She has known since she walked onto the 91ĢĘ²®»¢ campus exactly what her purpose would be. Thus, she has brought together the fields of medicine, sociology and organizational development as a way to understand, harness and mobilize the human capital needed to change the health care system for vulnerable groups,ā said , assistant professor of the practice of psychological sciences.
UNDERSTANDING THROUGH RESEARCH
Red Wing found inspiring research projects to further her goals in the run by Boles, as well as the .
āI told Dr. Boles I wanted to help kids like my nephew, who have PTSD from so much time in the health care system. She taught me about pediatric medical traumatic stress, which is a form of diagnosed PTSD, and thatās what I focused my summer research on,ā Red Wing said.
CONNECTING WITH HER HERITAGE
Boles also helped Red Wing outside the lab, by giving her a space to connect with her Native American heritage.
āMy grandfather was a Santee Sioux and the first generation to live off a reservation, and my grandma is Guatemalan. Iām very thankful to hold on to both of their cultures because they represent past figures, past generations in my familyās lineage of people who fought for freedom, people who fought for a better life. And thatās everything I stand for,ā said Red Wing, who has also been a resident adviser at 91ĢĘ²®»¢ for three years. āI wake up and I work 12-hour days normally, because thatās what Red Wings do.ā
Red Wing said Boles gave her a supportive environment to explore her roots.
āTalking with Dr. Boles was the first time I connected with someone about my Native American heritage because she has studied Native American religions, and she was the first person that was just so excited to hear my story.ā
Red Wing became active in 91ĢĘ²®»¢ās and danced in to honor her Guatemalan side. She also earned a prestigious Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship that helped her learn about other cultures through a study abroad program across South Africa, Spain, and Italy.
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Red Wing openly talks about having āimposter syndromeā when coming to 91ĢĘ²®»¢, and she credits the and for helping her throughout her college experience.
āIf I could talk to my younger self, I would say that itās okay to acknowledge the difficulties you face and to not be afraid to show both the light and dark aspects of who you are,ā she said. āI used to think that pushing my struggles aside would help me find happiness and would pave the path of success, but Iāve learned that growth comes from vulnerability and stepping outside of your comfort zone and then working hard. That ultimately led to my healing process.ā
Red Wing believes her 91ĢĘ²®»¢ experience changed her life for the better.
ā91ĢĘ²®»¢ is a safe place for transformationāa place where youāre not just prepared for a career, but for a life of purpose, service and connection,ā she said. āAnd thatās what makes 91ĢĘ²®»¢ so special to me. They were able to help me toward the future Iāve always been fighting for.ā
EVELYN MARX, ENTHUSIASTIC ENGINEER
When Evelyn Marx, an electrical and computer engineering double major in the describes her interest in engineering and advanced technology, she uses the word āpassionateāāand her actions and accolades back that up.
The central Ohio native has been learning about engineering since she started taking classes at Ohio State University her junior year of high school and participated in OSUās underwater robotics team.
āI joke that Iāve been in college for a very long time now,ā she said, laughing. āBut that helped me narrow down the type of engineering I was drawn to.ā
SUPPORTING U.S. DEFENSE
The U.S. Department of Defense saw her potential early on and selected her as a (Science, Mathematics and 91ĢĘ²®»¢ for Transformation) in her first year. The award provides students with mentorship, summer internships and full-time employment with the DoD in defense engineering after graduation.
āBefore my sophomore year, I worked at the Missile Defense Agency and had hands-on experience, which was very surreal,ā she said. āAnd because 91ĢĘ²®»¢ has such close ties to the Department of Defense and the Missile Defense Agency, Iāve continued working during the school year.ā
She is also active in , and its partnership with the institutional partnership SCALE (Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement) microelectronics workforce development program.
āDuring Evelynās four years, she has taken advantage of opportunities to meaningfully contribute to technical research and has served well in leadership roles and as a role model in mentoring other students,” said Marxās longtime mentor, , research professor of electrical engineering and interim director of ISDE.
“Her strong technical skills, excellent people skills and inherent curiosity will make her an asset to any organization and an excellent college professor in the future.”– Michael Alles
STUDENT TO TEACHER
Now Marx is moving from student to teacherāwith current engineers in the defense industry.
āMy newest project is called Lab RaTTS, which is a funny acronym for laboratory radiation test training simulator,ā she said. āIām teaching engineers in the defense industry how to test the very sensitive and expensive electronic elements on their missile or rocket or satellite, so they can survive in space and contribute to protecting our country.ā
FINDING BALANCE
But donāt let her incredible engineering resume fool you. Evelyn is also passionate about creating balance. Sheās been a leader in and the academic chair of her sorority Zeta Tau Alpha, among other activities.
āI love my sorority, and I’ve met my best friends ever,ā she said. āI think being a part of these woman-run organizations outside of the classroom is really important to me because much of what I do in engineering can tend to be very male-dominated. Having strong women that Iām inspired by, that I can lean on, has been pivotal to my success here on campus.ā
HER GREATEST INSPIRATION
While Marx has been on a uniquely charged path, she credits her late father, who passed away shortly before she started at 91ĢĘ²®»¢, with helping her map her future.
āMy dad was the most amazing parent and educator ever. He was an English professor, and he really helped me process all of my thoughts. Because I think when youāre applying to college and choosing what you want to do, itās super overwhelming. But I could really lean on my dad, and it made the process a lot more fun. Itās a memory with him that Iāll always cherish,ā she said.
Read more of Evelyn Marxās experiences in an upcoming Q&A.
MILITARY VETERAN RYAN THOMAS BUILDS WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Ryan Thomas clearly recalls memories of a decade of overseas deploymentsāworking to save lives as an Army medic and ultimately managing teams of health care providers in military emergency rooms. Those memories take a back seat to the joy Thomas and his husband recently experienced as the five-year adoption process of their foster child finally came through.
It was that family milestone that gave Thomas the ultimate motivation to retire from the Army and pivot his experience into the civilian workforce and earning a masterās degree in health care, human and organizational performance and marketing at the
āI left the military just a week before starting classes at Owen. It was an honor and blessing to be of value to my country and work alongside so many great people. Now Iām ready to challenge myself and help others in a new way,ā he said.
Thomas has accepted a position with Samās Club at their corporate office in Arkansas.
āThough itās a big departure from health care and emergency medicine, combining organizational performance and marketing has been really exciting,ā he said.
UNIQUE ROAD
Thomas completed his undergraduate degree over multiple years, taking night classes while working full-time in the Army. He said honing the work ethic to balance work, school and family has set him up for success.
āThe ādare to growā motto definitely fits for me. I have an open mindset, and Iām willing to share my experiences and learn from others in different cultures, with different perspectives, different ideas. Thatās the whole idea of working in collaboration. If you donāt ask the question and open yourself to learn, how do you even know if you were right or if someone else is wrong?ā he said.
Thomas has also been recruiting for Owen Admissions, sharing his unique story.
āRyan is one of the most personable students Iāve worked with. He is a light in our community, creating deep connections with his magnetic personality. Hearing him share examples in a recent panel about how he strove to create an inclusive and understanding community as an LGBTQIA member of the military was very moving, and you could easily see what a dynamic and powerful leader he is,ā said Amanda Fend, director of MBA recruiting.
LIFE GOALS AND ADVICE
Thomas said one of his joys now that heās consistently stateside has been coaching his sonās soccer team. He also has a goal of running a full marathon in all 50 states. So far, heās completed six races.
ā91ĢĘ²®»¢ has given me so many opportunities to make my own future a success. Itās up to the individual to make it happen, but the opportunities and connections are here,ā he said.
āWhen I talk to prospective students, I often say, ‘We all started somewhere. Some of us, like me, are very far from what you might imagine the typical MBA student. But no matter where you are in life, if you have a dream, you just have to start.’ā
- Look for more stories in the Class of 2025 storytelling series
- Meet members of the Class of 2025 building community in meaningful ways
- Meet four members of the Class of 2025 who are transforming lives by collaborating in engineering, medicine, mentorship and education
- Follow all the latest Commencement 2025 news and updates on the
- Share your Commencement photos and tag #VU2025