On Friday, July 24th, graduates of the Professional Master in Electrical Engineering (MEE) degree program joined a virtual alumni panel hosted by the Engineering Professional Master’s Program. The event focused on sharing the experience of four recent graduates and gave incoming and prospective MEE students the opportunity to take part in a Q&A with the alumni panelists.
Moderating the virtual discussion on Zoom was Michael Orchard, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. The diverse alumni panel was comprised of students from different classes, Adam Bloom (MEE ‘15), Erjola Buzi (MEE ‘12), Han Yu (MEE ‘18), and Rishija Misra (MEE ‘14, MBA ‘19).
While each participant shared a different journey for obtaining their MEE, what united the group was how the degree helped propel them in their current career, regardless of the field.
Adam Bloom, Systems Engineer at Viasat, commented on pursuing an MEE degree, “During my undergraduate studies, I was able to intern at Viasat. I graduated, and I knew I had an understanding of electrical and computer engineering, but I wanted to become more of an expert. The MEE program allowed me to be more confident in tackling open-ended questions within the field. When I graduated with my masters, it was more than just having a strong foundation in electrical engineering; it was having an understanding of industry applications. This degree has helped me step into and succeed in a variety of roles within my company.” Erjola Buzi, Electrical Engineer at Aramco Services Company, agreed on how her degree helped her succeed within in her company.
“I had already started my career before I applied for the Rice MEE program, but I knew I had time to do more and to learn more. What attracted me to Rice’s program was the ability to choose electives that suit your interests and goals. I sat with my then supervisor to select courses and electives that would help me prepare for the promotion and role I was working towards.” Buzi continued, “Even though I graduated in 2012 and have progressed in my career since then, I still go back to what I learned during my time at Rice. Those foundations of electrical engineering never change, as I’ve advanced in my career, I’ve found new ways to apply them.” Han Yu, MEE’18 and current Rice PhD student, Electrical and Computer Engineering, said of his experience as an MEE student, “I joined the MEE program because I wasn’t sure of my next steps. “After talking and working with my professors, I decided that obtaining a PhD was something that was really of interest to me. Faculty made the time to help me with the application process and define my goals.” All of the panelists made a point to comment on their experience both in and out of the classroom and how they enjoyed working with faculty. Buzi explained, “The professors don’t treat you like students; they treat you like colleagues since they are teaching and talking about their passion.
" Rishija Misra, Senior Associate, JP Morgan (MEE ’14, MBA ’19), summed it up perfectly, “The diversity of students and courses within MEE allow you to step into a leadership role when you walk off that campus. The connections you make, from fellow students to staff in the career center, really prepare you for what’s next. It's been invaluable.”
This virtual event was organized by the Rice University Engineering Professional Master’s Program. Explore more professional master’s alumni outcomes, find program information and stay connected for future virtual events by visiting epmp.rice.edu.
Nicole McAdoo, Global Marketing Manager