Electrical Engineering student Molly Ruley shares her journey, from winning pageants to envisioning a robotic future that improves lives for all.

As a pageant competitor with her sights set on Miss America, Molly Ruley (’26) is no stranger to the spotlight or intense competition.

Offstage, Ruley has a different dream — one where she uses her passion for improving the world through practical innovations. Inspired by STEM icons like Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace and shows like "BattleBots" and "How It’s Made," Ruley knew early on that science and math fascinated her.

Despite considering careers in law or art, it was her father who encouraged her to follow her passions, ultimately leading her to the field of electrical engineering.

Since her father’s passing from cancer, Ruley has become even more determined to make him proud, applying her love for science toward creating a future where technology makes life easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Now, approaching the end of her B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Embry‑Riddle's Prescott Campus, Ruley is balancing her pageant aspirations, leadership roles and engineering studies skillfully. We caught up with her after our last conversation to explore her recent accomplishments and learn about her path forward.

Experiences at Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott Campus

Ruley’s decision to attend Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott Campus was driven by her preference for smaller classes and a close-knit academic environment. “I came from a small school, and big lecture halls scared me,” she admitted.

Ruley has taken advantage of Embry‑Riddle’s flexibility by customizing her education, shifting her minor from Robotics to a dual focus in Computer Science and Space Physics. These fields align with her passion for autonomous systems. “I’ve really enjoyed my computer science classes,” she said. “I know those coding courses will be valuable for my work with robotics.”

Taking advantage of Embry‑Riddle's industry partnerships, Ruley interned with the local tech company Canyon AeroConnect. The learning experience was valuable, giving her hands-on exposure to electrical engineering with avionics systems and helping clarify her career goals.

Electrical engineering, as Molly Ruley pointed out, is our future. “Electrical engineering is the foundation of so many industries,” she said. “Every industry needs an electrical engineering team.”

Reflecting on the Field of Engineering

 

For Ruley, electrical engineering is like solving a puzzle, “applying math to circuits,” she explained. “In other fields, you can apply math to physical objects, but in electrical engineering, you’re working with forces too small to see.”

Electrical engineering, as Ruley pointed out, is our future. “Electrical engineering is the foundation of so many industries,” she said. “Every industry needs an electrical engineering team.”

While artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, Ruley believes human creativity will remain essential and irreplaceable. She envisions a future where robots automate tasks like construction, landscaping and even archeological research, allowing people to prioritize creative and strategic work.

Learn more about Electrical Engineering at Embry‑Riddle.

Connecting With Community

Despite her busy schedule, Ruley remains deeply involved in campus and community activities.

She’s president of Alpha Sigma Tau and vice president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch at the Prescott Campus. She’s also an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, the Altitunes choir and volunteers at a children’s art museum in Mesa, Arizona.

In addition to promoting the arts, Ruley is passionate about destigmatizing mental health challenges. “These struggles are more common than many people realize,” she noted. “The first step is knowing you’re not alone.”

Her artistic hobbies, like Irish dance and crochet, offer her creative outlets. “My artistic hobbies also motivate and inspire my creativity within engineering,” she said.

Pageant Advantages

Ruley excels in high-pressure environments, as evidenced by her recent string of pageant successes. In 2023, she won the Miss Yavapai County title, and in 2024, she added Miss Queen Creek to her list of victories. This year, she will be competing for Miss Arizona. In the future, she has her heart set on winning Arizona Rose of Tralee and competing in Ireland. 

Apart from the runway glamor, many pageants have evolved into foundations that serve their members and regional communities. Pageants have provided Ruley with rewarding community-building, personal development and scholarship opportunities.

“The sisterhood and the fun of competing are my favorite parts, but the scholarships are a close second,” Ruley said. “As a local titleholder, I want to bring more women into the program so they can earn scholarships and serve their communities.”

Tips for Students

Ruley has learned valuable lessons from juggling her busy life as a student, pageant competitor and campus leader. She offered five pieces of advice for students:

  • Time management is essential — and learnable. “Managing a busy schedule is a trainable skill. I’ve gotten better at it by not procrastinating and using a physical planner to stay organized. I also prioritize spending time with friends, staying active and getting enough sleep.”
  • Don’t get stuck on one way of doing things. “There are multiple ways to solve a problem, but some methods are more efficient than others. Memorizing equations is one thing, but learning to apply them efficiently takes practice.”
  • Ask for help when you need it. “Everyone has tough days, and mental health struggles are more common than people think. Your loved ones want to help you and be there for you even if your brain is telling you otherwise. All it takes is one text message to ask for support.”
  • Embrace a variety of interests. “I think specializing is great, but to live a full life, you need a taste of everything. Being involved in more things also breaks down stereotypes. Engineers aren’t all nerds, pageant girls aren’t all stuck up and artists can also be scientists.”
  • Enjoy life. “The world could use more fun and creativity. We need people who are not only making life easier but also making it more enjoyable.”

Embry‑Riddle is proud to welcome students like Ruley. At Embry‑Riddle, our students are bright and uniquely gifted: driven, creative and passionate about improving the world — both in and out of the classroom.

On Embry‑Riddle's Prescott Campus, the Department of Computer, Electrical and Software Engineering includes bachelor’s programs in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Software Engineering. Our expert faculty enrich their programs with real-world experience, and our industry partnerships connect students to invaluable networks and personalized internships.

Discover how Embry‑Riddle can empower you to lead others and be a model for the world. Reach out to admissions and get started today!

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