She doesn’t wear a jacket emblazoned with numbers, but you can still spot math whiz Rikki DeOreo when you need her numeric help or want to hear about helping her fellow students with MathWorks.
The second-year electrical engineering student expects to graduate in 2028, but until then, you’ll find her in the Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence in her new position as the MathWorks Student Ambassador for the University of Florida.
Edwin Marté Zorrilla, Ph.D., an instructional assistant professor with UF’s Department of Engineering Education, was impressed with DeOreo as a student in his Programming for Engineers class, which utilizes MathWorks’ flagship product, MATLAB. She had recently joined a research group and was applying concepts from the course to her projects.
Though she is introverted, she became a peer mentor for Marté Zorrilla’s lab section in Fall 2025 and around the same time, she learned the Student Ambassador position had been vacant.
“I recognized Rikki’s initiative, technical ability and growing leadership skills. I spoke with her about the opportunity and encouraged her to apply. I also provided a recommendation on her behalf,” Marté Zorrilla said.
Being a Peer Mentor involves helping students learn how to use MATLAB and think algorithmically, while being an ambassador involves hosting virtual and in-person events and sharing research with the rest of UF.
“I really enjoy this position, as it allows me to share my past experiences using MATLAB with not only the students in the MATLAB Programming for Engineers course, but the entire College of Engineering and beyond. I also enjoy getting to expand my MATLAB skills and learn more myself,” she said.
MATLAB is a computing platform developed by MathWorks used for engineering and scientific applications, such as data analysis, control systems and robotics. It has a programming language, specialized libraries for engineering applications and tools to generate embedded code.
DeOreo is becoming less of an introvert these days. This semester, she’s organizing a MATLAB Student Club, sponsored by Marté Zorrilla.
“I hope to have the club registered officially with UF Student Government by the end of this semester, so we can hold more events and have a place for interested students to meet,” she said.
You’ll know it’s her because she will be the one wearing the MathWorks T-shirt and badge.