Q&A: Questions for Minh-Thu Dinh

What drew you to electrical engineering at NC State?

My dad used to be an engineering technician who specialized in fire alarm systems. He worked for my school district when I was younger, and he would always tell me the fun things he got to do at work, whether it was setting up the PA system or figuring out the fire alarm configurations, and it encouraged me to explore a career like that. I really wanted to prioritize a school that would allow me to explore electrical engineering and see which discipline I want to pursue within the major.

Why did you found the CRANE Collective at NC State, and how has it grown?

I co-founded it with a couple of my friends who felt like there wasn’t an organization to address more complex issues within the Asian diaspora at NC State. A lot of what we do is geared toward community engagement. Last year, we had a workshop that discussed cultural grief, which is not something that you would commonly find in most organizations. But we also do more community-oriented events, like our headlining one, the Asian Artist Showcase. We always want to prioritize spaces and experiences that allow people to grow and allow our communities to become further engaged and be comfortable while doing it.

Why is it important to you to explore Asian American history?

I think there is not a lot of information that is known about Asian American history that I was able to discover. Not everyone needs to be passionate about ethnic studies, but even just finding out more about your own identity and those around you provides insight on how to improve your surrounding spaces and communities.

Why did you decide to apply for Leader of the Pack?

One of my roommates encouraged me to apply. I initially wasn’t going to because I felt demotivated since a lot of my conceptions of Leader of the Pack were that you had to do NC State-specific things. But once I got more encouragement from my peers and even from the Goodnight Scholars professional staff, I decided to apply. I also wanted to recognize the Asian American efforts at NC State. I’ve seen it transform over the past four years into an amazing and evolving community, and I wanted to put that in the spotlight.

What was your most meaningful experience from your time at NC State?

One of my most meaningful experiences was through the Goodnight Scholars Program on the Mountains to Coast trip in March 2022. Students get to explore North Carolina and visit new sites, all while going to middle schools and teaching children about STEM through fun activities. On that trip, I made more meaningful connections with my peers, and I also gained a better sense of myself as a human, rather than someone who was just getting assignments done, because there was a strong emphasis on finding your identity as well as learning how you can help others.