Nathan Eason, Mechanical Engineering Alum
Degrees
BSME (2012), MSME (2020)
Current Residence
Bartlett, TN
Current Employer
Siemens Smart Infrastructure
What influenced your decision to attend Herff College of Engineering?
Knowing I could get an ABET accredited degree from one of the top institutions in
our state at an affordable cost was likely to main influence that led to my decision
to pursue a degree at Herff.
How did Herff prepare you for your career?
Herff provided opportunities for multi-disciplinary collaboration which greatly prepared
me to work in my current field. Additionally, Herff offered professional preparation
courses that helped prepare for interviews and the Professional Engineer's examination.
What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most
helpful in your career?
Problem-solving and resourcefulness are two things that have stuck with me. The ability
to frame a problem, gather the available data, and reach conclusions are skills I
learned through my days at Herff and apply daily in my career.
Who was your most impactful professor? Why?
This is a difficult question because I can think of instances from every professor
that still stick with me to this day. Dr. Marchetta, Dr. Hochstein, and Dr, Janna
were probably the most impactful in that they motivated me to challenge myself and
pursue a graduate degree.
Were you involved in student groups? If so, which one(s)?
I was involved with Tau Beta Pi and the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC). My work
with the IAC influenced my the direction of my career as I still work in the fields
of energy efficiency and conservation now
What support(s) did you have during your time as a college student? How did you keep
focused on the goal?
Family and friends outside of the university, but also instructors and classmates
on campus. It helped knowing that we (my fellow classmates) were in this together
and at anytime we could reach out to one another or an instructor for assistance or
encouragement.
What was your greatest memory from your time at Herff?
Standing in line at graduation and seeing and feeling the pride and sense of accomplishment
on my fellow classmates...we worked hard and earned it. Working on my graduate research
project is a close second.
What advice would you give those considering enrolling in Herff College of Engineering?
Schedule a time to meet with students and instructors that are currently enrolled
or teaching and discuss your goals and expectations for your college experience. Don't
dismiss yourself as not being engineer before giving it a try.
What do you know now that you wish you had known during your time at Herff?
I would have chosen to be more involved in undergraduate research opportunities. Undergraduate
research provides opportunities to apply knowledge and skills to current questions
in industry and academia. This is your chance to standout as an undergrad!
Was your Herff experience worth the price? If you could do it over again, what would
you do differently?
Absolutely...I've worked with graduates from some of the top engineering schools in
the South, and I can confidently say that my education and career preparation at Herff
was just as good, if not better, in many ways. If I had the chance to do it all over
again, I would complete the accelerated 5-year BSME/MSME and probably just continue
on to the PhD program. The college years seem like a long time in the moment, but
10 - 20 years later they will only feel like a long weekend. Take the few extra years
to invest in yourself.