Alumni – Page 4 – Engineering News

March 9, 2016October 24, 2016

Alumni Stresses Importance of Good Job Matches

Bryan Kwon, a 2004 CSULB computer science graduate, was back on campus this week to share his experience in the job world with College of Engineering students. Kwan, now senior director of customer engagement at Santa Monica-based Akana, told attendees at the Professional Development Workshop that it’s important that your first job after college matches your interests.

When he graduated, Kwon went to work in information technology, but after three years became bored with backing up tape drives and taking care of routine technical issues. “I was really bored,” he said. “I really wanted a challenge.” Continue reading “Alumni Stresses Importance of Good Job Matches”

March 7, 2016October 24, 2016

College Celebrates Engineering Night at the Pyramid

College of Engineering alumni, faculty, staff, and supporters helped cheer on the Long Beach State Men’s Basketball team to a 74-72 victory Saturday over top-ranked Hawaii State during the Inaugural Engineering Night at the Pyramid.

The evening began with a pre-game reception for members of the Dean’s Advisory Committee, featured an engineering-themed half-time show, and culminated with a post-game celebration that drew more than 200 College of Engineering alumni, supporters, faculty, and staff. Continue reading “College Celebrates Engineering Night at the Pyramid”

January 25, 2016January 25, 2016

Engineering Major to Global CIO

CSULB Engineering alumni Jim Green had a pivotal moment after getting out of the Air Force and finding himself working as a mechanic in a McDonnell-Douglas factory. That moment came after Green met a 24-year-old aerospace engineer. “I had an epiphany that I didn’t want to spend my life working in a factory,” he said.

Green’s ticket out of that factory was a computer engineering and electrical engineering degree from CSULB. When he began his studies—first at Long Beach City College, where he spent two years—computers were only beginning to emerge. “I thought computers may be around for a while and I might be able to make a living with them,” he recalled. Continue reading “Engineering Major to Global CIO”

December 1, 2015October 24, 2016

Roger Schwecke Leads CSULB Gas Co. Research Program

California State University Long Beach’s research partnership with the Southern California Gas Co. is the proverbial win-win. The utility suggests topics and provides financial support, CSULB engineering students conduct research, and at the end of the year, Southern California Gas Co. receives answers to pressing questions. Students, meanwhile, gain valuable experience and a shot at a job with the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility.

The 3-year-old CSULB program is led by Rodger R. Schwecke, the Gas Co.’s Vice President of Customer Solutions. Schwecke, a 1983 B.S. in chemical engineering graduate, oversees major customer-related activities for SoCalGas, including account executives, customer communications and eservices. He is also responsible for customer programs promoting energy efficiency, sustainability, low-income assistance and the development of new emerging technologies, including clean transportation, distributed energy, in-home services and biofuels. Continue reading “Roger Schwecke Leads CSULB Gas Co. Research Program”

October 23, 2015January 26, 2016

Is Southern California Ready for El Nino?

Speakers at the CSULB College of Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series Thursday agreed that a strong El Nino is brewing, and Southern California should be braced for higher-than-average rainfall this winter and spring. Although engineers and planners have learned much from past El Nino events, large-scale infrastructure improvements are still needed to prevent severe damage from future storms.

El Nino events are classified as weak, moderate, or strong, and usually peak in February. This year’s is strong, said Mark Jackson, meteorologist in charge of the Oxnard National Weather Service office, although it remains to be seen how many inches of rain it will deliver. “I’m not going to give my exact forecast for how many inches of rain we’re going to get. There are too many microphones and cameras here,” he said. Continue reading “Is Southern California Ready for El Nino?”