Student Spotlight: Mikey Wise '29

Michael 'Mikey' Wise '29 visits the Irving Institute during the 2025 Experience Irving event. (Photo by Beam Lertbunnaphongs '25)

Mikey’s interest in energy and engineering took shape during childhood summers at YMCA Camp Hayo-Went-Ha in Northern Michigan.

"It was there that I gained a great appreciation for the outdoors and a desire to preserve it, especially by protecting it against climate change," Mikey said. "As I sought out ways to have an impact, I knew I wanted to stay connected to mechanical and electrical engineering. The natural coalescence of those interests was the decarbonization of our energy systems, which in part inspired me to apply to Dartmouth and participate in Irving programming."

Mikey appreciates that energy and engineering studies allow students to further their education in broad areas—while also pursuing expertise in specific disciplines.

"I am still exploring the world of energy and want to learn all that I can," he said. "I am particularly interested in energy systems modeling and am taking Professor Erin Mayfield's Energy and Climate Systems Analysis and Decision Making course. I'd recommend it to anyone thinking about possibly working with energy systems in the future."

Mikey is minoring in public policy, and this past summer he completed a Climate and Energy Policy Research Internship with the Climate Institute, which is based Washington, DC. Working remotely, he tracked congressional activity and flagged bills related to energy, climate, or the environment. His work helped the team decide which measures and hearings to follow more closely.

"The research side of things took a few different forms," Mikey explained. "I completed analysis of trends in data-center-focused state-level legislation, and am researchingcommonalities in plug-in solar legislation."

The experience gave Mikey a view of how energy and climate decisions are made, and a policy lens to pair with his technical training.

Mikey's internship, engineering studies, and energy program experience have shaped his view of how society interacts with energy. We asked how he'd pitch energy interests and programming to a friend with no background in it. For him, the invitation is simple: start with what you already care about, and the energy connection will follow.

"Energy is becoming more central to everyone's daily lives, even beyond the fact that we all rely on it practically 24/7," he said. "Be it data centers and concerns about waste, rising utility prices, or the climate implications of not pursuing the clean energy transition, everyone is increasingly being impacted. This also brings increased opportunity for involvement. The energy sector has potential for all kinds of interdisciplinary involvement—it's so omnipresent, getting involved can be as simple as pursuing your interests with the 'energy' label tacked on the front."