Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1510765
30 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2023 nity, or even really known about aerosols if it hadn't been for that professor. What was most impactful for you so far? Joey Stam: is program has helped my con- fidence. Coming in, I was definitely the engi- neering stereotype, "Look at your own shoes, don't even look at the other person's shoes." But Jake Swanson offered me a position design- ing ventilation systems for buses. rough that, he mentored me into more of a leadership posi- tion, helping me gain a skill to lead teams. I've led two teams these past two semesters. e professors know us personally and figure out how and where to push you to get you to a cer- tain point. Right now, Rob (Sleezer) is telling me to start thinking about my master's or PhD to get further into the research aspect of engi- neering. I'm working on a paper with Jake right now, which is super exciting. I talk about my research with my parents all the time, and they just get that glazed look on their faces. I didn't know what I was going to be interested in until I got to do it. At the end of this path, what do you really want to do in your career? Stam: I wouldn't be opposed to teaching. I like explaining things. I like that connection, espe- cially on a smaller scale. I wouldn't want to be at a big university, maybe a research university instead. I like the research side and I've always been interested in that. But the communica- tion with people one-on-one, and making that difference is definitely the draw. Redlin: It changes day-to-day, honestly, but I think I really want to go into project manage- ment. ere are some weeks where I think, "I can never manage people." But it's what I really want to do in the aerospace industry. A previ- ous project I did was working with high-pow- ered rocketry; that's something I've always loved doing and learning about. If you were talking to multiple companies in your field as a possible employer, what fac- tors might influence you to go with one com- pany over another? Stam: If it's engineering adjacent, I will love it, and I will gravitate toward it. For me, in that case, the biggest draw will be cultural fit. A smaller, closer-knit community. If I'm in a good environment, I will do well, not only in my work, but outside of work. Some people can do better just as a cog in the machine; I know that if I have those connections and sup- port at work, as well as at home, life will go a lot easier and be a lot more fun. Redlin: Community is a big one. I want to be in a community that's open minded and driven toward innovating or taking the next steps to make things better. at's my main draw. I don't want to be at a company that's set in stone. Innovation is something that I really want. What would you tell a mid- or late-career hiring manager to help them in connecting with new college grads? Stam: I think maybe just the sheer fear of com- ing out of college that the world is vastly dif- Joey Stam