Skip to main content
Menu

UM-Dearborn Difference Makers Home

Main navigation

  • UM-Dearborn
  • Campus Life
  • Schedule a Visit
Apply Now

Main navigation

  • UM-Dearborn
  • Campus Life
  • Schedule a Visit
Apply Now

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. sarvani manikyala

Difference Makers

UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields.
They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.

Sarvarni Manikyala
Sarvani
Manikyala
An Engineer without Borders
Class of
2020
College
College of Engineering & Computer Science
Area of Study
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Campus Connections
Indian Graduate Student Association
Graduate International Student Organisation
Society of Women Engineers
Toastmasters
TEDx UM-Dearborn

Previous Education

Good Samaritan High School
VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology
Send Email
[email protected]
View LinkedIn Profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarvani-m-71a86a126/

Difference Makers

UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.

Share
TwitterLinkedInFacebook
Sarvani's Story

Growing up, Sarvani Manikyala was a self-described “machine freak.” The grad student hailing from India says she was always fascinated by machines. How they work, how they’re assembled — everything about machines piqued her interest. Earning her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in her home country, Sarvani opted to continue her education in the United States, selecting UM-Dearborn as her university of choice. “I ended up coming to UM-Dearborn because Dearborn is the automotive hub of the entire United States,” she says. “I thought this was a good option where I could think of my career as well as have fun learning what I’m doing.” Though the transition to American customs wasn’t easy, Sarvani found comfort in student organizations that support international students like herself and eventually climbed the ranks within these organizations, taking on leadership roles to ultimately serve students following similar journeys as her own.  

Sarvarni, in her own words

On finding home at UM-Dearborn. “As an international student, when I first came to Dearborn, I found — right from accommodation to getting used to the customs here — it was a very hard transition for me. I had various problems, which couldn’t be addressed on my own, like shopping for clothes, or how to commute with public transport, or if I wanted someone to take me to the grocery stores. In that journey, I had a few student organizations, which I’m a part of right now — especially the Indian Graduate Student Association and the Graduate Student International Organization. Every person who I met in these organizations helped me address all my issues and concerns here. That made my journey smooth and the transition really easy.”

On paying it forward. “Now that I’ve been at UM-Dearborn for a couple of years, I thought, maybe I would help all of the other international students who seek help. When I initially met other students on my path, I thought it was not just me. It was the journey of every international student. So, in order to help them, right now, I’m trying to support them in every way I can. I’m right now serving as vice president of the Indian Student Graduate Association and also the secretary of the Graduate International Student Organization. From helping them find their accommodations to helping them find a mentor or organizing professional development workshops to make them career-ready, we help them and guide them throughout their journeys.”

On being a woman in engineering. “Girls are not suited for working in challenging and stressful environments according to the people in my home country. But my parents have always been encouraging in whatever choices I make. I never liked working on the same monotonous jobs. I want my work to be challenging and adventurous. With my parents’ support, I was able to take up Mechanical Engineering in my undergrad followed by doing my masters in Industrial Engineering. In the future, I want to commit to my passion. My dream career is to see myself working as a quality engineer in a reputed automobile manufacturing company.”

University of Michigan Dearborn Logo
TwitterFacebookYoutubeInstagram
Copyright © 2025 Regents of the University of MichiganThe University of Michigan - Dearborn
The University of Michigan - Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Road Dearborn, MI 48128 US
313-593-5000

Footer

  • Ann Arbor
  • Dearborn
  • Flint
  • Privacy Policy