Name: Mallory Madfes
Class: 2018
Hometown: Greenwich, Connecticut
Major: Industrial Engineering
Concentration if any: Management Concentration
Minor(s): Criminology & Mathematics
Why did you apply to be a student ambassador?
I applied to be a student ambassador because I wanted to give back to the engineering school and help influence future ’Canes to attend the University of Miami College of Engineering.
What advice would you offer to new engineering students?
I would let them it is OK to not know what you want to do and don’t be afraid to switch specialties within the engineering school. Worse comes to worst, you do an extra semester or two of school. Also, your education is important; plan ahead so you can study everything you want to study! It is never too late to change your mind (if you are willing to spend some extra time chasing the things you are passionate about).
What do you feel is unique about being a student at UM College of Engineering?
After talking to my friends that are at engineering schools across the country, many of them say that they feel extremely secluded from the rest of the universities they attend. Here at the University of Miami, all students are part of the UM community, not just their individual college. Also, you are a ’Cane. Enough said.
Describe what you are doing in this position.
In this position, I have attended events and been available as an older member of ESA to give advice and answer questions about the five-year program and post-grad life. I like to think that I am helping the College of Engineering by having a voice to answer the questions and give insight on the topics that other ESA members might not know about.
What did you learn at CoE that has helped you in your position?
I learned that there are several types of engineering. This has helped me because I am able to reference the other departments besides my own. Also in the CoE I learned about critical thinking and not just regurgitating information. This is important at informational sessions for interested students because they can feel like they are getting actual answers, rather than memorized facts about the program. This makes our program feel real, which is one of the things I loved best when I visited Miami for the first time.
Which College student organization stands out to you and why?
Within the CoE, the organization that stands out to me is Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, because it is, hands down, one of the most active engineering groups on our campus in terms of visitors and events. I also have attended SHPE Conference and I loved the networking events at this conference.
What do you feel you are getting out of this position?
As an engineering student ambassador, I get to meet other engineering students that I would not meet otherwise. Also, I get to network with alumni at events I would not be able to attend as a student (Engineering Alumni Breakfast).
Why has this been a good experience for you?
This has been a good experience for me because I enjoy helping others, especially if it means I get to talk about something that I am passionate about. Also, I enjoy giving back to this university in a way I believe is more meaningful than a monetary donation.
What did you do during your Summer 2017 break? (please be specific in regards to work/internship, company, etc.)
During the summer of 2017, I worked at Goldman Sachs in the operations division. I was asked to move to the team in Dallas to help build up this office. It was an amazing experience and presented me with the opportunity to move into the securities division in the Dallas office full time next summer!