When Sydney Klinzing began her pursuit of higher education in 2023, she was looking for a graduate degree that fit her career and life. After five years of undergraduate study, two co-op experiences, a study abroad program in Brisbane, and several undergraduate research positions, she was ready to enter the workforce rather than pursue a traditional thesis-based master’s degree. A conversation with a coworker who had completed the UW-Madison online Master of Engineering in Sustainable Systems Engineering (SSE) program confirmed it was the right fit for Sydney. Klinzing graduated in May 2026 and now serves as a geotechnical lead engineer at renewable energy consulting firm Westwood Professional Services.
Since earning her master’s degree, Klinzing has been promoted twice and credits the program with strengthening the confidence, adaptability, and critical-thinking skills that have contributed to her professional growth. “I’ve learned to find mentors in my field, network, stay curious, and understand what other teams are doing and how my work affects theirs,” she said. “I look at the big picture much more than when I started as a geotechnical field engineer co-op over five years ago.”
The program also expanded her technical knowledge beyond the geotechnical engineering work she encounters every day. Through coursework, she gained a deeper understanding of the renewable energy industry, from solar project development and design to electrical one-line diagrams and module selection, while still developing expertise in geothermal systems. The professional development courses were just as valuable. They helped reshape how she approaches engineering decisions. Rather than focusing solely on the most technically advanced solution, Klinzing learned to consider business value and client needs. “It’s about designing what works best for your client, not always what is technically the best solution,” she explained.
For her capstone project, Klinzing explored adapting abandoned vertical mines in Butte, Montana, into a district-scale geothermal heating and cooling system. Although the project became more limited after stakeholders withdrew because of federal funding cuts, it deepened her knowledge of geothermal system design and implementation. Looking ahead, she hopes to see more geothermal systems adopted across the United States and even envisions helping establish geothermal geotechnical services within her own company.
Learn how UW–Madison’s online Sustainable Systems Engineering program helps working engineers grow their technical expertise and leadership skills.