At USF, a mechanical engineering student followed her father’s path — and built her own

By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

When Sara Arroyave Soto chose to attend the University of South Florida and major in mechanical engineering like her father, she knew she was following a familiar path.

She didn’t expect how closely it would align.

Arroyave Soto took courses from three of the same professors her father once had and, while purchasing the latest textbook editions, she often turned to his older copies of the same books for guidance and perspective – their margins filled with his notes.

Her father, John Arroyave, graduated from USF in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and went on to work in aerospace navigation systems at Honeywell.

Arroyave Soto is now earning her own bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, along with a minor in environmental science and policy. She hopes to pursue a career in aerospace focused on designing cleaner, more energy-efficient aircraft and systems.

As USF celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, she also becomes part of a growing tradition — multigenerational Bulls.

“My dad has been a huge influence for me,” Arroyave Soto said. “Because of him, I’ve always had that fascination with aviation.”

That influence stretches back to her earliest memories. Her father often took her to the Kennedy Space Center to watch rocket launches and tour facilities – experiences that sparked a lasting curiosity about flight and engineering.

John Arroyave also believes workplace exposure played a key role in shaping his daughter’s future. He recalled regularly participating in “bring your kids to work day,” giving her a firsthand look at what he did every day.

He also pointed to her time at space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, as influential, noting those experiences “had some positive influences on her” and helped guide her educational and career path.

Trips to USF’s campus were part of the family’s routine as well. They attended soccer, football and basketball games together. She attended a soccer camp on campus, and, on at least one occasion, her father brought her to an engineering expo at USF.

“So, it felt right enrolling at USF,” Arroyave Soto said.

“I was so glad it wasn’t another Florida university,” her father said with a laugh. “That would have been like a dagger in the heart.”

That familiarity sometimes surfaced in unexpected ways.

When her father recognized the names of her professors, he would pull out his old textbooks and tell her, “That’s great that they still teach. You’ll learn a lot.”

Recognition worked in the other direction as well.

Her statics and dynamics professor noticed she was using a third-edition textbook while everyone else had the 13th. Arroyave Soto explained it had belonged to her father, who had taken the very same course years earlier. She then showed the professor a photo of her father from college.

“He recognized him,” Arroyave Soto said.

While Arroyave Soto’s path mirrors her father’s, it’s not identical, as it’s also being shaped by her minor in environmental science and policy.

“There is an intersection between the two that I want to explore,” she said.

As an undergraduate researcher in USF’s Thermal Fluids Discovery Lab, Arroyave Soto studies how air moves around objects — work that can help engineers design cleaner, more energy-efficient aircraft.

Using computer simulations rather than physical experiments, she models airflow to better understand drag and efficiency of aircraft — key factors in fuel consumption and emissions. Her research explores how subtle changes in shape, engine placement or airflow patterns can lead to meaningful performance gains.

Even small improvements in aerodynamics, when applied at scale, can reduce fuel use and support the development of electric and hybrid aircraft.

“I really want to help create a cleaner and greener future for everyone involved,” Arroyave Soto said.

Like her father, she’s not done with USF yet. He returned to earn an MBA in 2003.

After graduating, Arroyave Soto plans to remain at USF to pursue her doctoral degree in aerospace engineering through continued research at the Thermal Fluids Discovery Lab.

“My father showed me what an engineering career could look like, but he also showed me why it matters,” she said. “Following a similar path feels less like imitation and more like continuation.”