Profiles of Engineers and Engineering

Students

Introduction Brief overview of engineering professionals and

students ordered alphabetically Each engineer addresses 3 areas

Why or how they became an engineer Their current professional activities Their life outside of work

More info in text Search out your own professional engineer and interview

him or her!

Biomedical Engineer: Sue H. Abreu, Ft. Bragg, NC Occupation:

Lt. Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army

Medical Director, Quality Assurance, Womack Army Medical Center

Education: IDE (BSE, Biomedical

Engineering), 1978 MD, Uniformed Services

University of the Health Sciences, 1982

Lt.Col. Sue H. Abreu (ret.)

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~omcc/

Studying Engineering Started with teaching classes

Minor in Athletic Training Studied aeronautical engineering for lightweight artificial

limbs and protective equipment

Specialized in nuclear medicine after medical school

Ended up in a field never knew existed Follow your dreams, find something you love and

earn a living doing it You will be much happier in the end

Life Outside of Work Enjoys skydiving Volunteers as team doctor

for U.S. Parachute Team Travels world with them

Lives in large house on 6 acres of country land

No children Dog Cats

U.S. Army Parachute Team

www.arnold.af.mil/aedc/highmach/stories/goldenknights.html

Sr. Electrical Engineer: Joseph Buffington, Atlanta, Ga. Occupation:

Draftsman Test Engineer Research Engineer

Education: Georgia Institute of

Technology Southern Polytechnical

State University

Senior Electrical Engineer(ret.)

Studying Engineering Excelled in Math and Physics Enrolled at Georgia Tech

Pursued a dual degree in electrical engineering Work on the electric car while studying engineering

Transferred to Southern Polytechnicaal State University Wanted to learn more about electronics Continued to work on the electric car Built my first Ham Radio Graduated with an Associated Degree in Electronic &

Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering

Life Inside/Outside of Work Enjoys Playing Piano Hunting Fishing Roller Skating Playing Ping Pong Amateur Inventor Coin Collector Stamp collector

Hovercraft Racing

Biomedical Engineer: Sue H. Abreu, Ft. Bragg, NC Occupation:

Lt. Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S. Army

Medical Director, Quality Assurance, Womack Army Medical Center

Education: IDE (BSE, Biomedical

Engineering), 1978 MD, Uniformed Services

University of the Health Sciences, 1982

Lt.Col. Sue H. Abreu (ret.)

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~omcc/

Computer Engineer:Moyosola O. Ajaja, Chandler, AZ Occupation:

Software Engineer at Intel Corporation

Education: BS, Computer and

Electrical Engineering, 1997

Career Life Challenged to learn new

things and remain at leading edge of computer technology

www.zen26266.zen.co.uk/ Intel.htm

Studying Engineering Excelled in Math and Physics Enrolled at Purdue University

Pursued a dual degree in computer and electrical engineering (option no longer available)

Wanted to seek fortune and learn more about computers (moved from Lagos, Nigeria)

First year, sought after Internships and Scholarships to fund education

Attended many resume and interview prep shops Awarded Intel Foundation Scholarship (full ride)

Life Outside of Work Camelback Mountain hike Loves travel

Fueled by job and school Interested in Photography,

Theology, and dog obedience training

Engineering is a discipline Qualities of an engineer

are apparent in everything she does

Camelback Mountain

www.nightskyworkshop.com/ june03.htm

Aerospace Engineer:Patrick Rivera Antony Occupation:

Project Manager, Boeing Space Beach

Education BS, Aerospace Engineering

Career Life Develops and maintains management system

used for organizational oversight, planning and operational assessment

Studying Engineering Math and science favorite subjects Fascinated by space travel, rockets and airplanes

Earned pilot’s license

Would put more emphasis on non-engineering classes Be able to communicate effectively, work in teams, and

know different aspects of business More English, Business, and Social Science classes to

become a more rounded and more valuable employee

Life Outside of Work Spends time with wife

and two children Studying for a

Doctorate degree in Organizational Psychology with emphasis in Change Management.

Enjoys golf, hiking, fishing and biking

Horizons Golf Course

www.horizons.com

Electrical Engineer:Bob Feldmann, St. Louis, MO Occupation:

Director, Tactical Aircraft Mission Systems, The Boeing Co.

Education: BSEE, 1976 MS, Computer Science,

1980 MBA, 1999

Bob Feldmann

www.boeing.com

Studying Engineering Interested in Science, Math was not biggest

ambition in life First programming class in college hooked him on

hardware and software for computers Designed software for flight simulators during

college coop Leads teams of over 800 engineers in design and

production of Mission Systems (avionics)

Life Outside of Work Centers on outdoor activities with wife and

three sons

Coached sons in soccer and baseball

Enjoys golf and bike riding (to name a few)

Mechanical Engineer:Dr. Adel A. Zakaria, Waterloo, IA Occupation:

Senior VP, Engineering and Manufacturing, Worldwide Agricultural Equipment Division

Education BSME, Egypt, 1967 MSIE, 1971 PhD, Industrial

Engineering, 1973

Dr. Adel A. Zakaria

www.ecn.purdue.edu

Studying Engineering Grew up in a developing country

Engineering was an instrument for making genuine progress

Interested in how things were made Coop or summer jobs helpful in getting

early exposure and making studies more meaningful and interesting

Life Outside of Work Hobbies are racquetball and photography Traveled with family to over 30 countries Active in a number of national engineering

societies and community volunteer groups Hospital board United Way Boys and Girls Club

Engineering Student:Emery Sanford Major:

Mechanical Engineering

College: University of California-

Berkeley University of Sydney-

Australia (study abroad)

Helpful High School Prep Classes Math, especially calculus

Prepared for University-level math and engineering courses

Principles of Engineering courses and hands-on case studies Helped choose the college major

College Experiences Freshmen classes are tough, “A slap in the face” Figure out own learning style to be comfortable in

university classes Find something to get involved in besides school

Focus only on school will drive you crazy

Find study partners to help solve tough engineering problems Help you study for exams as well

Engineering Student:Colin Quinn Major:

Mechanical Engineering

College: University of Wisconsin-

Madison

Work Experiences Coop at Wolf Appliances

in Madison, WI with R&D projects

Helpful High School Prep Classes Engineering classes put him ahead up to

two years above classmates his first year Learning and applying the theory in real-

world situations is great experience Composite materials (Materials Science)

helped with extracurricular activities in college Carbon fiber Formula 1 style race cars

College Experiences Hands-on experiences are important Getting involved with projects is just as

important as earning the good grades Member of the UW Formula SAE team

Has learned many skills not taught in classroom

Engineering StudentMike Kahan

Major: B.S. Computer Science

(2003) M.Eng Computer

Science

College Massachusetts Institute

of Technology (MIT)

Helpful High School Prep Classes Calculus I and II

Good background for Electrical Engineering Intro Chemistry and Physics

Prepare for college equivalents Engineering I, II, and Independent Study

Hands-on tinkering and opened door for wide-range of occupations

High Mileage Vehicle competition First team exposure dealing with planning, and

mechanical engineering

College Experiences Freshmen

Took a lot of catch up time for classes to classmates

Sophomore Lots of boring work, slept average 4 hours

Junior Enjoyed better classes and more sleep

Senior Earned first 4.0 of college career and applied for the

Master’s Degree

Engineering Student:Gideon Sorkin Major:

Engineering No specialization

selected as of yet

College: Brown University

Providence, RI

College Experiences Engineering classes are very insightful Math and physics applied quickly to

engineering curricula Leaves engineering lectures feeling like he

understands the world better than before