When Marianna Fronciani Farina arrived at Wichita State University, she chose mechanical engineering for its flexibility, unsure exactly where it would lead. Four years later, that foundation, strengthened by hands-on software testing and quality assurance work at NetApp, led her to a full-time role in test engineering, proving that real-world experience can shape both skills and direction.
Fronciani was an international student from Paraguay. She decided to pursue her education at WSU because her cousin had studied at the university through the “Comité Paraguay Kansas” program, which allows Paraguayans to study at universities in Kansas with in-state tuition. When she toured WSU, the John Bardo Center blew her away, and she decided to make Wichita her home.
“Thanks to the Comité Paraguay Kansas, I was able to meet my best friends who I consider family that also came to Wichita State from Paraguay,” Fronciani said. “I am so grateful to my family who sacrificed a lot to give me this opportunity, I really wouldn’t have accomplished all the amazing things I got to do without their support.”
During her time at WSU, Fronciani discovered that she learned best by applying concepts in real-world settings. A MATLAB course during her sophomore year sparked a strong interest in programming and problem-solving through code, inspiring her to add a minor in computer science. That curiosity led her to pursue a student contractor position at NetApp, where she could bring classroom learning to life.
At NetApp, Fronciani joined the Customer Readiness Engineering (CRE) team supporting E-Series products. Her responsibilities included software testing, bug identification, and validating product readiness before it was released. The role introduced her to quality assurance, an area of engineering she had not previously considered. Through this experience, she gained an appreciation for the importance of attention to detail in delivering reliable products and strengthened her problem-solving skills by analyzing failures, reproducing issues, and collaborating with different teams to implement solutions.
“Working in a real-world engineering environment helped me better understand how engineering decisions impact manufacturing, reliability and end users,” Fronciani said. “It also clarified my career goals by showing me how much I enjoy roles that combine technical analysis, testing and collaboration across teams.”
Fronciani’s applied learning experience not only expanded her technical expertise in mechanical engineering disciplines; it also strengthened her confidence and communication skills. It prepared her for the next step in her professional journey: accepting a full-time position at NetApp as a test engineer on the manufacturing team.
“Some faculty I met along the way really inspired me and gave me confidence when I needed it most,” Fronciani said. “Dr. Gu truly cared about his students and loved teaching, and Dr. Ahmed once told me, ‘Don't take it so hard upon yourself; learn from your experiences; and focus on what's ahead. You will do fine as long as you are trying your best,’ which has stayed with me ever since.”
“This role represents an exciting continuation of my applied learning journey and a strong alignment with my mechanical engineering background,” she said.
As she begins her full-time career at NetApp, Fronciani reflects on how what started as uncertainty about a major evolved into a clear professional path shaped by curiosity, persistence, and opportunity. She is grateful for the gift of applied learning at Wichita State and the chance to work and learn at the same time.
“I hope my experience can help inspire other students like me who may be struggling to keep pushing through and believing in themselves,” Fronciani said.
Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.
For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.