Jesse Simpson, Civil Engineering Alum

Degrees
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering  (2016)
Master of Science in Civil Engineering (2018)
PhD in Engineering (2020) 

Current Residence
Phoenix, Arizona

Current Employer
Huitt-Zollars and Arizona State University (Adjunct professor)

What influenced your decision to attend Herff College of Engineering?
I wanted to pursue civil engineering because I knew that it was the foundation of so much of our society. I wanted to be the person responsible for solving problems and improving the lives around me.

How did Herff prepare you for your career?
My undergraduate studies taught me how to think like an engineer - approaching problems from an analytical perspective and searching for solutions. My graduate studies taught me how to teach myself, to be self-reliant, and how to lead others.

What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most helpful in your career?
The most practical skill I learned through the program was how to teach myself new things. When I finished school and got my first interview, I told my interviewer that he should hire me because, "Whatever you need me to learn, I'll learn it faster and with less effort from you than anybody else." That person decided to give me a chance to prove that claim, and I still work closely with him to this day. Without my experiences at Herff, I never would have made that claim, nor would I have been able to back it up.

Who was your most impactful professor? Why?
Dr. Mishra was the head of my dissertation committee and the primary professor whom I worked with during my graduate studies. He did so much to encourage me and guide me along that path, and it was because of his help that I had so much success while I was in the Herff College.

Were you involved in student groups? If so, which one(s)?
I attended a few ASCE and ITE meetings, but the main group that I interacted with was the Baptist Collegiate Ministry off Patterson Street.

What support(s) did you have during your time as a college student? How did you keep focused on the goal?
My family was always supportive of my path. I focused on my ultimate goal of improving the world and passing on my knowledge to future students.

What was your greatest memory from your time at Herff?

In Dr. Camp's first freshman lab, he had us do the classic egg drop project. We had to prepare an egg to fall multiple stories without cracking. I asked him what supplies we could use, and he looked at me and said, "Well, what supplies can you get?" My mind shifted from what was available in the classroom to what my group could find or buy nearby, how quickly we could assemble materials, and testing prototypes. It encouraged out-of-the-box thinking and expanded my perspective on what I could do at Herff.

What advice would you give those considering enrolling in Herff College of Engineering?
It's easy to focus on the material - the coursework, the equations, the theory - but that's not what's really important. Focus on practicing the soft skills: effective communication, working as part of a team, and thinking critically about things. If you can master those things, that will be what sets you apart.

What do you know now that you wish you had known during your time at Herff?
Internships are incredibly valuable. I didn't pursue any internships during my time at Herff, and it was one of the things I regretted the most. You're going to learn a lot in class, but there is so much to learn that the classes can't possibly cover it all. Internships are where you start to understand why you're learning what you're learning.

Was your Herff experience worth the price? If you could do it over again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely. Given the chance to do it over, I would definitely get a summer internship