Bridge to the Future

BY KENNETH BURKMAN

BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE GRADUATE STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT BUILD VITAL CONNECTIONS

Amid so much turmoil and uncertainty, there remains much to celebrate. One notable example is college graduation. At the University of Vermont, conditions did not allow for traditional, in-person convocations, but students have every reason to be thrilled and proud of their achievement. They have demonstrated excellence in every fi eld from accounting to zoology and, for the fi rst time in UVM’s 229year history, in graduate studies in Engineering Management.

Although the name suggests managing engineers, Engineering Management is an umbrella term that comprises many disciplines, all of which require technical problem solving and business decision making. Sometimes called an MBA for engineers, Engineering Management helps engineers understand how their work fi ts in a business context. This understanding is particularly important in Vermont, where small company sizes often require engineers to perform business functions like supply chain management and cost estimation. UVM’s fi rst two graduates in the Master of Science in Engineering Management (MSEM) are perfect examples of engineers working in a traditional business context. Both participated in UVM’s Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) to earn their master’s degree during an intensive fi fth year and chose the project option for their master’s program.

Sydney Whipple, Mechanical

Engineering ’19, modeled production at Ben & Jerry’s using Discrete Event Simulation. Her model helped the manufacturer understand bottlenecks and explore What If scenarios to increase effi ciency with ingredients. “This experience was invaluable. I’m thrilled that I had the opportunity to participate and am excited to see how this degree will play into my career moving forward,” Sydney said. She is now looking forward to entering the workforce in the fi eld of engineering management.

Joshua Wasilewski, Civil

Engineering ’19, used structural health monitoring data and current design standards to evaluate bridge fatigue. Using estimated maintenance and replacement costs, his work will help the Vermont Department of Transportation prioritize budget requirements for our critical infrastructure. Josh noted, “The Engineering Management program has off ered me a variety of applicable courses that I will be using in my professional career. It has allowed me to further my technical knowledge while learning about structural reliability and fatigue design, as well appreciate the importance of asset management through business and project management courses.”

No one can predict how the current crisis will play out, but some things are certain. Students will continue to graduate and embark on meaningful careers. Graduates, through much hard work, will continue to apply their knowledge to help businesses and government agencies. Taken together, there is every reason to feel confi dent we will see better days ahead and our CEMS grads will be ready!