One of the most important lessons I learned while attending OU was the importance of ambiguity. The first time my professor presented this concept to the class I struggled with the importance and how I was going to use this concept after graduation. Throughout the semester, embracing ambiguity became a theme in the class. The professor would introduce many concepts throughout the semester that did not seem to be something I would use. It took me about two years before I fully understood the wisdom of what I was being taught. The concept of embracing ambiguity referred to the idea that in life you will not always receive written instructions with a due date like most professors give. You need to be able to complete assignments given verbally. If a due date is not given you need to be able to recognize that and ask for a due date. Life will not be as structured as it is in school. It is important to recognize and understand how to perform a task with little instruction. These are the kind of lessons that showed me the professors went beyond the standard curriculum to really teach their students and make sure they would be successful.
What do you do for your job?
When I first started working I was working on continuous improvement projects, lean projects. Since then I moved into the capital projects group. The engineering skills I obtained at OU allowed me to grasp concepts quickly, which allows me to work in many different areas. I currently (work at DTE and) manage a database that tracks the financial life of a capital project. In my current position I am able to develop myself by learning about cost and finance. I am also able to use my industrial engineer skills to track spending and make improvements on the forecasting process.
How has your education at OU prepared you for your job?
OU helped prepare me by giving me a well-rounded education. The basic engineering courses (EGR courses) gave me the foundation to not only tackle Industrial Engineering problems but also to be able to address basic engineering problems. Throughout my career I used my industrial engineering skills to create process improvements while in my continuous improvement position. I have used my knowledge of thermodynamics while working in the electrical power plants and have used my statistical skills while working in the capital group. I have been able to use the tools I learned at OU to move to different groups throughout the company.
Do you find that only those from the very high profile schools are the ones who excel?
I find that OU prepares their students for the working world and that they give their students a well-rounded education so they can adapt to any problem or task that is thrown their way, making them very valuable employees. The diversified education that OU has provided allows me to work in many different areas and my company has noticed this.
Would you recommend that prospective students consider OU for an ISE degree?
I would recommend prospective students consider OU for industrial engineering. ISE is a very diverse field. It allows individuals to work in many different areas such as in the utility industry, hospitals, automotive industry, and others. Companies are constantly trying to find ways to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of their product. Industrial engineers help companies cut cost which makes them valuable employees. Companies recognize the value of industrial engineers which helps to crate job security.