Get to Know … Mackenzie Bonney

Before Mackenzie Bonney became the manager of the College of Engineering’s Drosdick Innovation Laboratory at Drosdick Hall, she was a student of ceramics and sculpture, a high school art and technology teacher, and a creator of innovative work environments. These experiences gave her a unique set of artistic, teaching and practical skills to guide Villanova students as they turn their designs and concepts into reality.

Trove of Tools

“The Drosdick Innovation Laboratory is the College’s first engineering-focused maker space that provides opportunities for hands-on, collaborative learning and enables students to create real-world, scalable prototypes,” she says. The lab offers a range of advanced tools, including 3D printers, a laser cutter, a pressure former and a vinyl cutter.

Open-Door Policy

Any Villanova student may work in the lab after completing the relevant equipment training and agreeing to safety guidelines. By welcoming everyone, the lab promotes interdisciplinary learning.

A typical day might include hosting a robotics design workshop for Mechanical Engineering students or a 3D-printing lesson for a biomedical instrumentation course.

“But the lab is just as inviting for the History student who came in wanting help creating a Batman Halloween costume,” Bonney says. “We want students to choose their own adventure, and we welcome all skill levels.”

Fail Forward

As a ceramics student at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Bonney quickly learned that there was no one way to bring an idea to life. She also realized that the creative process was rarely straightforward and sometimes messy. “I remember working for hours on a sculpture, only to see it accidentally blown up in the kiln,” she says. The experience taught her not to get too attached to objects or methods for creating those objects.

“I tell students that my job is not to make things for you—my job is to guide you as you discover new ways to create something,” she says. “It’s important in engineering to know how to make the things you conceptualize so you can create better designs.”