Tell us about your education and/or career path since graduating from UMW. What is your current role? How did your time at UMW prepare you for your career?
Since graduating, I’ve been employed at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, where I had an internship the summer before my senior year. NSWCDD paid for some of my tuition and books my senior year, as well as my Masters of Engineering degree from Old Dominion University, which I completed remotely while working full-time. I’m currently the Missile Integration Project Lead, doing systems and mechanical engineering for US Naval missile launching platforms. While I’m not doing much, if any, pure math these days, my time at UMW certainly helped pave the way for my career by teaching me how to think critically, interact with lots of different people, and ultimately how to learn.
What class or UMW experience did you have that has been surprisingly useful to you in your career path?
I worked as a stage carpenter for the Theater Department for 3 years, and although the actual work has nothing to do with my degrees or my career, I think regularly being around people with different interests and personalities from me was really valuable. I learned how to get out of my comfort zone, how to take charge of a group, and how to divide up work and make sure a project got completed.
What non-math skill did you acquire at UMW that has been helpful in your life after UMW?
I think the most important thing I learned from UMW is that there is a lot of knowledge and information out there, and the more you can absorb, the better. The beauty of a liberal arts degree is the wide breadth of learning you’re exposed to, and I think that’s really helped me be adaptable in my career and everyday life.
What advice do you have for a current or prospective student?
Try everything. Take a class just because it sounds interesting, sign up for tons of clubs, and go to all the on-campus events. Push yourself, not only academically, but also socially. Learn as much as you can from the great environment you’re in, and have fun!