Dayton Engineer

By Karen Updyke, School of Engineering

GE’s Professional Development Committee (PDC) is an elected committee of co-op students who coordinate activities during and after work for co-ops in the Cincinnati area. PDC activities range from ‘Lunch and Learns’ with executives to site tours and fun social activities.
 
This summer, six elected PDC chair positions opened, and University of Dayton School of Engineering students, Lucas Calderon, Brianna Dooley and Samuel Eagan (pictured, l-r), were elected to three of them.

Lucas Calderon, junior mechanical engineering major, facilitates ‘Lunch & Learns’ with executives and organizes monthly co-op meetings. Calderon expressed: 

            “GE Aviation gave me a challenging role with a lot of responsibility, I worked on projects that have high value to the company with visibility to different functions of GE Aviation as well as GE Aviation leadership. They expanded my understanding of what it means to be a leader, giving me opportunities to lead teams for my role within GE Aviation, as well as an opportunity to be a leader in our co-op Professional Development Committee. The way GE merges leadership experience and technical understanding is second to none.”

As the Education & Involvement Committee (E&I) co-chair, Brianna Dooley, junior mechanical engineering major, coor­­dinates site tours and a new co-op educational program: ‘The Internduction.’ The program explores key functions of GE Aviation and its products with a mission to provide a holistic understanding of GE Aviation for co-ops and interns from any major. According to Dooley: 

           “GE Aviation provided me with a very diverse co-op that challenged my engineering, professional and leadership skills. During my role in Marine Military Systems Operations, I lead multiple projects, such as procedure and process improvements, engine repairs and cost reviews. I also worked directly with suppliers and provided customer and product support. Beyond my engineering role, I took advantage of numerous networking and involvement opportunities at GE and in the Cincinnati community. I am an active member of the GE Women's Network and participate in other professional and social activities. Holding a leadership role on PDC has helped me get to know my peers better and to enhance the experiences of other co-ops at GE Aviation. I am excited to pass along my experiences and leadership at UD in the fall!”

As PDC communications chair, Samuel Eagan, senior mechanical engineering major, creates weekly newsletters and distributes other resources to co-ops. Eagan explained: 

          “Receiving the opportunity to work for GE Aviation these past months was an enriching experience, both professionally and educationally. My projects gave me experience with the entire engineering process, from designing a component to then certifying that part to meet government regulations and finally to mass producing that component. The critical thinking and engineering philosophies ingrained in us at the University of Dayton allowed me to tackle problems for my team and make a true, lasting impact on the introduction of GE’s new development engine. My position as GE’s PDC communications chair gave me the chance to have a leadership role where I can improve other students’ co-op experiences and ensure their learning and professional development through events hosted by the PDC. I’ve loved every rotation with GE Aviation and cannot wait to apply my new knowledge to my work at UD in the fall!”

In addition to the three GE PDC committee chairs from the University, Noelle Jacobs, senior mechanical engineering major, works with Dooley and is the event coordinator on the E&I Committee. 

The University of Dayton and the School of Engineering are well represented at GE Aviation in Cincinnati this summer!