Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

From Stevens to the Peace Corps

Just a few weeks after she graduates in May, Katie Quish '13 will fly to Liberia, where she'll spend the next two years teaching math and science to children for the Peace Corps. While there, she'll look back on her years at Stevens as a time of learning, exploration and personal growth.

Quish, 22, grew up in Hartford, Conn. Her father is a travel agent and her mother is a teacher. She is an only child. She attended high school at University High School of Science and Engineering, a reputable magnet school affiliated with the University of Hartford. She swam, played tennis and joined the school robotics club.

Quish wanted to attend a college where she could continue to pursue her lifelong interests in science and math. She had been touring colleges throughout the northeast when her uncle, a guidance counselor in New Jersey who used to live in Hoboken, suggested she look at Stevens.

“I fell in love with it instantly,” she said about her first visit to Stevens. “The location is great, and it's the right size school for me. Everyone is involved, and everyone knows everyone, which is great. There's a lot of support around because everyone knows who you are.”

Quish said she overcame the challenge of adapting to college and academic life during her freshman year.

“The first year was rough, and I wasn't ready for it,” she said. “But through repetition I got used to it. When you're involved with things on campus, which is easy to do at Stevens, then you learn that balance. You're always busy so you learn about managing your schoolwork and organizing everything.”

Quish will graduate with a degree in Engineering Management.

“It's still a degree in engineering, but more of the business world,” she said. “I like being able to talk to people and help them manage their projects.”

During her time at Stevens, Quish served on the Entertainment Committee and helped bring events to campus. She also worked in the community with the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and served as vice president for the Stevens chapter of Habitat for Humanity and as treasurer of the Stevens chapter of the Society of Women Entrepreneurs. She spent her senior year spring break in Portland, Ore. building houses with other Habitat volunteers.

Quish also joined the Stevens Cooperative Education program, which helped her land two internships, first with the Louis Berger Group, an engineering firm in Morristown, and then with Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of aerospace company United Technologies Corporation. She worked for Hamilton Sundstrand out its offices in Connecticut and San Diego.

Quish credits one of her professors, Teresa Zigh, with encouraging her to join the Peace Corps. “She was really supportive,” Quish said. “I told her I really want to do the Peace Corps, but I was wondering if I should find a job instead, and she said no, go for it, it's something you want to do and it's in line with your career goals.”

Quish said she's excited about her opportunity to teach abroad, in a country that is recovering from civil war.

“They're really pushing for education over there, and the kids we'll be teaching will be the next generation who will be able to improve Liberia's economy and help them grow,” she said.

She said she's preparing for the change in lifestyle.

“I know it will be really different, going from having everything readily available all the time, to going somewhere where I might not have internet for a month,” she said. “I'm sure it's going to be hard, but it's something I really want to do.”

When she returns, Quish wants to find a job that blends her expertise and interest.

“I'd like to use my engineering and project management skills for international development, and help other countries that might not be as well off,” she said.

In her spare time, Quish enjoys practicing yoga, hanging out with friends, including her sorority sisters in Theta Phi Alpha, and exploring cities like New York, Boston and Washington.

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Peace Corps - Update

Global Perspectives Offer Life Lessons

By John Holl

Before heading to Ecuador last summer for a study abroad program, Victor Osorio thought the most significant part of the experience would be tackling an unfamiliar area of study. Osorio figured that Ecuador would not be too different from his native country Guatemala, so he was not expecting to learn anything new outside the classroom.

“I thought that I was going to go to Ecuador and focus more on the class, Sustainable Energy, than the people and the culture,” recalled the Stevens Institute of Technology mechanical engineering student, who plans to graduate in 2014. “To my surprise, it turned out to be the other way around.”  He became so immersed in the culture and area that local students and even some taxi drivers knew him as “Señor Osorio.”

Today’s university experience extends far beyond the home campus, and purposefully so. Exposure to cultures, customs, and practices of other countries can mean an edge when it comes time to enter the ever-expanding, global professional world. Keenly aware of this advantage, Stevens has actively forged partnerships around the world. Studying abroad can add to personal and professional growth and make students more marketable in a global workplace, says Deborah Berkley, dean of the student development and enrichment programs at Stevens.

The world’s growing interconnectedness is one of the main reasons chemical biology major Daniel Burke sought an opportunity to study in Malaysia last summer. A cooperative education student with plans to graduate in 2014, Daniel wanted to be immersed in another culture and gain precious travel experience that wouldgive him a leg up when it comes time to search for a job.

To facilitate the global experience, Stevens has agreements with a number of respected international institutions of higher learning outside the U.S., including American University of Paris, University of Sydney (Australia), University of Limerick (Ireland), and Saint Louis in Madrid (Spain). These established programs allow students to spend one semester living and studying abroad, rounding out their educational experiences by opening doors to the people, ideas, and work ethics of cultures different from their own. 

Stevens also has short-term programs in which students can spend a week during their winter or spring breaks studying abroad. Recent destinations have included Paris and Brussels. In addition, undergraduates take part in seminar trips, such as the ten-day visit to Germany that is run through the Howe School of Technology Management. The seminar exposes students to German management practices, economic and cultural issues, as well as the history and impact of the reunification of Germany. It is designed to assist students in becoming more comfortable working in a foreign country should they receive international assignments in the future.  

For Stevens students who might not want to spend an entire academic semester away from Hoboken, summer study abroad is an option as well. Class of 2011 graduate Andrew Bentz, for example, spent last summer in Malaysia. He said the summer experience was an opportunity to see how education varies by country and to become familiar with a different style of teaching and learning.

Abhay Sampath, an electrical engineering major who studied in Singapore during the fall 2010 semester, found common ground with fellow study abroad students. “My roommate last semester was a student from Sweden,” recalled Sampath. “When I remarked that I was a fan of ABBA, a band from Sweden, he responded that he is an avid listener of Bruce Springsteen, who is from New Jersey!”

Year-round cultural and sightseeing trips to sights in England, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic also enhance the student experience at Stevens. 

Beyond the new foods, new friends and cultural enrichment, there are many practical outcomes from time spent abroad. Osorio, for example, used his time abroad for ongoing networking. He keeps in contact with fellow study abroad students and professors through email and Facebook, and a group of them are working on a plan to exchange students from the U.S. and Ecuador.

Berkley said she gets a lot of inquires about studying abroad. Interest is high, and participation is growing. The University is looking to dramatically increase the number of study abroad students in the coming years with increased awareness. The ultimate goal is to have 10 percent of the Stevens population studying overseas prior to graduation. Berkley says that destinations like Australia, France, Ireland and Spain are popular with students, and that recently students have expressed interest in studying throughout South America and Asia.

“My experiences abroad were by far the most fulfilling experiences I have had through Stevens,” said Allyson Mackavage, a chemical engineering major scheduled to graduate next year. She spent one summer in Kongsberg, Norway and another in Bangi, Malaysia through Stevens’ study abroad programs. “Having seen two societies that completely differ from each other and from American culture, I now find it easier to look at things from other perspectives. It has also inspired within me a stronger desire to travel and see even more places, and I hope that's something that stays with me the rest of my life.” 

Studying abroad is a win-win, says Berkley, because it introduces students to a new culture and also helps to change stereotypes that others might have from what they see on American television and popular culture.

“My experience abroad has 110% made me a stronger student and a better person,” says Burke. “I don’t take my life for granted here in the U.S. any longer, and I have a deep respect for other cultures all over the world. It’s important to be able to learn from every experience in life, not just from lessons in the classroom. Doing fieldwork on the island of Borneo definitely taught me that.” 

Meet Stevens' New Student Government Leaders

Fast-approaching the 100^th senate of Stevens’ Student Government Association (SGA), Nick Catania and Abhay Sampath take the helm as newly elected (2011-2012) president and vice president, respectively.  Assuming top position on their agenda is a concerted effort to increase the already robust and diverse representation of clubs and organizations on campus - something that makes Stevens distinct. They aim to position the SGA as a central point of information for extracurricular activities and inspire students to come up with ways to make the Stevens experience even better.

“With almost 100 student-run organizations on campus, there are so many ways to get involved.  You can join media organizations, ethnic and professional societies, sports, Greek life, and so much more.  Students are always starting new clubs and finding new ways to explore their interest," Catania said.  "The funds for these organizations are in the hands of students, and everyone is determined to be successful. There is clearly a great advantage for students here.”

Both Catania and Sampath will be entering their final year as Stevens undergraduates, and they are very excited to be holding their new leadership positions.   These are students who have taken full advantage of opportunities for student involvement at Stevens.  Catania is a double major – engineering physics and music & technology (with a concentration in music composition).  He is also a member of Gear and Triangle, Stevens Jazz Band, Stevens Dramatic Society, and he was on the winning team of the Northeast Regional Ethics Bowl.  Sampath is a Stevens Scholar who will earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in electrical engineering when he graduates in 2012.  He is a former member of the Stevens Honor Board and a member of a number of extracurricular clubs. In addition, this past fall semester (2010), he studied abroad at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

“My study abroad experience was amazing,” Sampath said. “It was one of those college experiences that gets you out of your comfort zone and opens your eyes to different environments, outside of what you learn in the classroom.  This was the first time I had the opportunity to experience new cultures and travel to such remarkable destinations as Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. I’m happy that Stevens was able to connect me to other parts of the world.”

With most of their undergrad years behind them, Catania - a graduate of Marlboro High School (Marlboro, NY) - and Sampath - a graduate of Middlesex County Academy (Edison, NJ) - look back on their transformation and credit Stevens with helping them become campus leaders.  Stevens’ close-knit community engages students in ways other larger universities cannot.  They say everyone at Stevens is motivated to work together, take on new challenges and make things happen.

Their message to incoming freshmen?  Take advantage of the available opportunities to get involved.  Freshmen, for example, eager to take on new leadership roles, can run for the SGA Senate positions early on in their first semester.  And Pre-Orientation is a great way to be introduced into the community before the school year begins.  It helps many students get a jump start on making new friends and building relations that will last through, and well-beyond, their careers at Stevens.  “We can’t wait to see you at Stevens this fall, and we’re looking forward to getting you started on your new adventure!” Catania said.

Intersession Abroad

For a group of Stevens students, the end of the fall semester signaled the beginning of a new adventure. This adventure took the form of a trip sponsored by the Office of Student Life, Intersession Abroad, when a group of students and staff members participated in a 10-day excursion to Prague, Vienna, and Berlin.  An annual program at Stevens, students are able to experience the culture of Europe at an affordable rate with their friends… and maybe even learn a thing or two.

For instance, Erica Carpenter ('10) learned that when traveling “bring American cold remedies because outside Germany their cough medicines [aren’t as effective].” Andrew Kaplan ('09) learned (the hard way) that Europe has “a lot of small doors.”

Typical for Stevens students, the remnants of the Berlin Wall and bomb shelters in Prague are not always enough to distract from their chosen fields of study.  Andrew, who has passionately studied traffic engineering in his civil engineering courses, was excited that “the opportunity to learn about the transportation systems of Europe, including the subways, streetcars, and driver-pedestrian interactions expanded my professional knowledge.”

Intersession Abroad is just one of many opportunities Stevens students have for international experiences.  Students regularly study abroad in the UK, Australia, Spain, Turkey, and Israel.  The Stevens chapter of Engineers Without Boarders also regularly travels to the Dominican Republic to use their technological skills to improve life for the nation’s population.

- Regina Pynn, ‘11
Photos by Mike Manzella, ‘09

Mike Munley's Journey to Job Success

I knew when I decided to attend Stevens (way back in spring of 2004, mind you) that I’d be getting a first-class engineering education, which would set me up for obtaining a great job post-college.  What I didn’t know is that everything I did from that point on would affect my future job hunt.  Bear with me as I explain my college experience; you’ll soon understand what I’m doing.

Coming into Stevens I knew I wanted to study Engineering Management (EM).  I liked the combination of core, broad-based engineering peppered with business, economics, and project management.  Beyond that, I was clueless.  Ask me what I wanted to do with a degree in EM, and I’d give you an “Umm, I dunno... business maybe?  Maybe construction management?”  Clueless.

Freshman year at Stevens I did about a thousand different activities outside of class: Stevens Political Awareness Club, Dramatic Society, Ambassadors’ Club, Entertainment Committee, American Society for Engineering Management.  In the spring, I utilized the NYU/Stevens relationship and took Elementary Japanese 2 at NYU’s College of Arts & Sciences (I was fortunate enough to place into EJ2 thanks to four years of high school Japanese).  Over that summer, I did a construction management internship with the Port Authority, where I had the opportunity to go to the top of the George Washington Bridge and down into the pit of the World Trade Center Site.  Without a doubt, it was the most exciting of any of my jobs to date, though it did make me realize one thing... I wasn’t much a fan of construction management. 

And so sophomore year began with me being just as clueless as ever with what I wanted to do post-grad.  I stayed involved with the Dramatic Society, including a position on the e-board, and the Entertainment Committee, and I decided to join a social fraternity.  I knew a bunch of guys who, rather coincidentally, all happened to be in Sigma Phi Epsilon and after hanging out there a lot in the fall, I soon became a brother and quickly became the Balanced Man Scholarship Chairman.  I also did my first co-op at Ethicon, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company.

My third year was basically a repeat of my second year.  My next co-op, however, was at GlaxoSmithKline where I developed various operational excellence experiments to see how we could save money on the packaging lines of Aquafresh and Sensodyne.  Yep, lots and lots of toothpaste.

After my third year, I decided to forgo a co-op term to study abroad in Japan during the summer of 2007.  I studied Intermediate Japanese at KCP Language Institute in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.  At this particular school, they refuse to speak in English in the classroom.  Everything is conducted in Japanese; just ask my buddy Marc who studied there the next summer and knew no Japanese before going!   I lived in a dorm about an hour train ride away with only four other Americans and a ton of Japanese college students.  I took the Shinkansen (bullet train) down to Kyoto, the ancient capital, and I went on a school trip to Yamagata, which is essentially the boondocks of Japan.  And I even got credits transferred for use as a humanities course at Stevens.  The food is strange, the culture is different, but all of it was incredibly amazing and awesome!

My fourth year I was elected as president of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society.  We hold various community service events, such as Tau Beta “Pie”, where we pie professors in the face and the annual Pi Mile Run.  The spring was spent mostly on my final co-op at Medco Health Solutions.  It was about as far away from engineering as a job could be, as I did business analysis the majority of my time there.  And would you believe it… I LOVED IT.

And so came my final year, and the job hunt.  By now, I knew what I actually enjoyed and wanted in a career: business analysis, travel, a leadership/management role, and problem solving.  After working with Career Development, attending the career fairs, and sending my resume to everyone and their mother, I lined up a bunch of interviews with consulting companies and leadership development programs.  It felt as if every other day I was in my suit.  And I had to balance all this with school.  Yes, it’s tough, but if there’s one thing that stands out about Stevens, EVERYONE is in the same boat.  And even with all that, I still found time to hang out and make it to trivia night at my favorite bar (I am over 21 after all).

In my interviews, I noticed I’d get the same questions over and over again:

Q: Name a difficult team experience.  What did you do about it?  A: “At Ethicon, most team members were in different countries and had different priorities and cultures, and I had to impress upon them the importance of quickly doing what I had asked...”  (Side note: remember this was my first co-op job... and can you believe they actually listened?!?!)
Q: Name a time when you had to innovate.  A: “At Medco, I developed a user-friendly self-populating spreadsheet that automatically generated monthly metrics for 12 very different groups with 12 very different sets of metrics...”
Q: What’s your proudest achievement?  A: “Managing a team that organized a 100-person regional conference for Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society...”
Q: Describe a situation when you challenged authority.  A: “When I was the scholarship chairman of my fraternity...” and I’d speak of the time I had a dispute with some of my fraternity brothers on how to manage our scholarship.
Q: Speak about a time when you had to take the lead and learn something new to get a goal accomplished?  A: “In my freshman design lab we had to program a robot, and no one on my team had any clue how to program a robot...”
Q: What’s your best leadership quality? A: “Well, if there’s anything that going to Japan taught me, it’d be adaptation...” and then we’d chat about sushi for 5 or 10 minutes.
Q: What’s your passion outside of class?  A:  “Well, that’d be acting and singing,” and I’d go on and on about all the fun times with the dramatic society.

I think you see where I’m going.  If I didn’t do all that I did while at Stevens, I’d be answerless.

In the end, I had five sets of second round interviews (including one which was an all-expense trip to Fairfax, VA... while it’s not a very touristy city, it was still pretty cool to take the Acela train, stay at a hotel, and eat at no cost to me).  I got the “I’ve got some very good news for you” call from Johnson & Johnson’s Information Technology Leadership Development Program around mid November, and with that call, the weight of the world was released from Atlas’s hands.  I signed, sealed, and delivered my offer acceptance on December 1st, and I’m slated to start my position with Consumer Products (think Band-Aids, Johnson’s Baby Powder & Shampoo, Aveeno) on June 15th.  In my time between school and work, I plan to take a quick jaunt to Scotland to visit some relatives I haven’t seen in more than a decade (with banked co-op cash!) and to road trip out to Wisconsin for my buddy Gus’s graduation party (he’s already got his job lined up with UPS).

And as for this semester, I’ve got Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays off, and with the exception of Senior Design, not a care in the world and no longer clueless.

- Michael Munley, ‘09