Engineering graduate to host new CNBC series​​

​Her career has taken her inside science labs and in front of television cameras. Now, Washington University in St. Louis alumna Deanne Bell is ready for her next adventure: co-hosting a new six-episode series on CNBC called “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor.” The show premieres at 9 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Deanne Bell
Deanne Bell

Bell graduated from Washington University in 2002 with a degree in mechanical engineering. She designed opto-mechanics for military aircraft sensors and worked as a senior application engineer for a software startup before making the switch to TV host. Bell’s new CNBC series meshes science, business, innovation and entrepreneurship as it uncovers the best inventions never made and gives inventors a second chance to bring their ideas to life.

“I love hosting this show because I get to use engineering to give inventors the confidence they need to go in front of venture capital investors,” Bell said. “Most people have had a million-dollar idea, but not everyone is equipped with the skills or the connections to turn that idea into a business. That’s where we come in. My role on the show is to help inventors develop a professional prototype and ultimately prepare them for a pitch with an investor that could change their lives forever. Sometimes it’s exhilarating, and other times it’s heart-wrenching, but I love giving inventors that big chance.”

Bell has worked in television since 2006, hosting science-based programs for networks including ESPN, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and DIY Network.

Although she has found her place in front of the camera, Bell also has stayed true to her engineering roots: last year, she founded FutureEngineers.org, a platform that hosts national invention challenges for K-12 students. She also serves on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation board of directors.

Watch the promo for “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor.”