Paul Palazolo, Civil Engineering Alum

 

Degrees
BSCE (1974), MSCE (1976) 

Current Residence
Cordova, Tennessee

Current Employer
University of Memphis (Recently retired)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What influenced your decision to attend Herff College of Engineering?
Meeting with Dean Nolte and Dr. John Smith when I was returning to college after military service.

How did Herff prepare you for your career?
A good understanding that Civil Engineering was more than a degree but was a commitment to a career. I was lucky to have some of the best teachers who understood both the technical aspects of the profession and the meaning of the profession.

What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most helpful in your career?
The ability to stop after calculations and consider if the results were actually possible or realistic. Also, taking the time to think and plan how to approach a problem before actually starting to work on it.

Who was your most impactful professor? Why?
Dr. John Smith. From a group of really dedicated and impactful professors,Dr. Smith stands out for me. He included me in some wonderful research opportunities that showed me the connection between theory and practice. He taught me a number of classes and in every one of them, added a wealth of knowledge about environmental topics.

Were you involved in student groups? If so, which one(s)?
American Society of Civil Engineers

What support(s) did you have during your time as a college student? How did you keep focused on the goal?
I was funded through the GI bill for four years but during that time I also worked for Dr. Smith and Dr. Anderson in the environmental engineering lab. During this time, the lab was full of students and faculty and the interactions with both the faculty and other students definitely kept my focused.

What was your greatest memory from your time at Herff?

The group that I studied with during my undergraduate program. We studied together and competed so get the highest grade on tests. I think it raised all our grade points. This group also made up the core of the intramural group in Civil Engineering, The Steel Sewer.

What advice would you give those considering enrolling in Herff College of Engineering?
Visit. Meet the faculty. Meet the students. See if you are comfortable. This is where you will be the basis for your career and some of your lifelong friendships.

What do you know now that you wish you had known during your time at Herff?
I wish I had spent more time with the faculty then learning how to be a great teacher.

Was your Herff experience worth the price? If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely. Nothing really except work harder in Soil Mechanics.