Who are you and what do you do?

I’m a big geek. Like, there’s no getting around it. I like Star Wars to a degree such that other geeks worry about me. I went to my first Star Trek convention at age 7. I may or may not have dressed as an anime character at some time. I love xkcd and the best part of Big Bang Theory is getting/laughing at the math and physics jokes before the laugh track kicks in.

I’m a systems engineer. I adore my job and even if I didn’t have to work, I’d probably be doing it anyway. I love my industry so much, I do freelance writing for it on the side. Which, by the way, is a great way to get some other-side-of-the-brain creativity injected into my everyday engineering life.

I’m passionate about the FIRST robotics program and how it can help minorities and women get excited about engineering and do great things. I’m also volunteering for a program in my neighborhood to run science labs in the park during the summers for elementary school kids.

I am also doing (not entirely scientific) experiments with varying levels of feminine appearance. My real first name is actually masculine, and I’ve always been a real tomboy, but it’s become a goal of mine to be more of a “girl”, especially professionally where, socially, I get along like one of “the guys”. This means wearing heels and skirts and nice jewelry in an industry where free conference t-shirts and cargo pants are the norm. It’s been fascinating to see the reactions I get when I don’t “dress like an engineer.”

I always have my Leatherman in my purse.

Areas of Interest

Science fiction, robotics, bugs (except spiders), history and historical fiction, learning foreign languages, traveling to cool places on someone else’s dime, space, Rock Band, becoming one of Those Mac People.

Random Facts

I’m not actually named Kaylee, but my car is.

Favorite Foods

I could die happy eating nothing but baguettes and cheese for the rest of my life. But if I have to add some others, I also enjoy sushi, the entirety of Thanksgiving Dinner, a perfectly done steak, and wine, wine, wine.

Favorite Female Superhero/Action Hero/Any Hero

Oh, gosh. This one is hard. I always wanted to be the Ninja Turtles, but there weren’t any girls there. Hrm. I dunno — most of my “heroes” have been real-life women who I want to be when I grow up… everyone from my mom to astronauts to business leaders. I’ve been really lucky to have them to follow.

My Spirit Animal Would Be…

A kiwi.