Alumni Couple Gives Back in Gratitude

Although the career path for Danielle (Luongo) Fries ’94, MS ’98, would not be considered conventional for an engineer, the mechanical engineering undergraduate and fire protection engineering graduate alumna says she used her WPI education through all her numerous pivots.

“I started out, as one might expect, with a job in robotics but soon moved into the technical sales area of fire protection. In retrospect, that was my favorite job, because it combined problem-solving with building relationships,” she says.

She shifted gears into the commercial real estate field and enjoyed “the thrill of the chase,” before a desire to return to a technical field led her to several small startup companies.

“Throughout that entire 30-year journey, I have used and continue to use my WPI education,” says Fries. “The knowledge and skill I gained on The Hill have allowed me to contribute and make an impact in areas ranging from technical design work to solving complex problems in a methodical way.”

Exhilarated by the idea of building something from the ground up, Fries ultimately found her way to her current role as senior program manager with the life sciences company MilliporeSigma.

“I have always been grateful for the amazing education I received at WPI,” she says. “I wasn’t just taught the mechanics of engineering, innovation, and problem-solving. I was also taught how to apply the knowledge and skill we gained in WPI’s classrooms and labs to real-world problems. With a WPI education in my toolbox, I was rarely intimidated when I encountered a new problem in the field.”

Areas outside of the WPI academic curriculum also had a positive impact on her life, especially through global travel. “My Interactive Qualifying Project in Venice was another rewarding experience where I learned how to integrate technology and society. It was my first trip outside the U.S. and I had to solve technical problems while also learning how to live in a different culture. The journey was next-level and led me to a love of travel and experiencing adventures abroad with my family.” Fries also recalls with fondness her time as a WPI field hockey athlete and a Phi Sigma Sigma sister.

If all of that wasn’t enough, at WPI Fries met her husband and partner in life, civil engineering and fire protection engineering alumnus Kenneth Fries ’93, MS ’98. “We still have amazing friends from college that we travel with, and our families have grown up together,” she says. “Our network of friends includes fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, and teammates.” 

When considering philanthropic giving to their shared alma mater, the couple is committed to paying it forward, she says. “WPI was generous to both of us in its financial support. Ken and I give back to help others pursue a top-level education while also participating in sports or other extracurricular activities. The connections forged along the way will last a lifetime and we are happy to support others in their quest for knowledge and adventure.”

As WPI continues Beyond These Towers: The Campaign for Worcester Polytechnic Institute, support for scholarship, athletics, and student organizations will remain a cornerstone of student success at the university.