Katie is pursuing a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Environmental Engineering. She is active within Theta Tau (the Co-ed Professional Engineering Fraternity) and she serves as the Historian for Gamma Phi Beta (a Social Sorority)
I knew even before I got to SMU that I wanted to major in ME because I have always loved building stuff and seeing how it works, and I always considered myself very analytical, but once I got here I was surprised by everything I could do with a Mechanical Engineering degree. For example, The ABET accredited department of Mechanical Engineering here at the Lyle School of Engineering offers programs that focus on design and manufacturing, robotics, automotive and transportation systems, and energy production and distribution, as well as all other aspects of mechanical systems.
All of these programs are taught by our fabulous faculty who spend their time researching solutions to the worlds greatest problems. Dr. Radovan Kovacevic works with abrasive waterjet technology and high-powered lasers to improve the state of manufacturing process while Dr. Volkan Otugen works towards improving aerodynamics through research in fluid mechanics. We even have a large portion of faculty who devote their time towards biomechanics and biomaterials to better serve patients in hospitals. To see more of their research click here.
What is great about SMU is that all of these same professors are the people who are teaching us in our everyday classes. Rarely are classes taught by TA's, which is completely different from larger schools who typically use TA's to instruct intro courses with less than stellar results.
Most importantly, SMU is located in the heart of Dallas, and because of that, students like me get to use the many connections SMU has with many big-name companies. While these connections are helpful while trying to find an internship or a job, these connections are also helpful in finding opportunities on or around campus. One of these opportunities is the Innovation Gym. I personally have worked on two Skunkworks Projects in the Innovation Gym. The first was building an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that was run off of a smart phone, and the second was a 3-D panoramic system used to capture a 3-D picture of a room with a push of button. I even was able to get paid during a semester long project in the innovation gym. To make a long story short, an outside company hired students to build a system to protect cargo ships from pirates.
As you can see, the Lyle School of Engineering is home to many opportunities that help students like me and you to learn essential skills so that we can ultimately lead in the professional world. I highly suggest you coming to this great campus.
If you want to learn more about the ME department be sure to check out their website here.