Josh U.

Josh took advantage of WPI’s Global Projects Program with an IQP in the Windhoek, Namibia, Project Center where he worked with a public-private partnership that represents transport companies. His group produced an application to help company drivers find the safest routes with real-time road work and safety alerts. The application also helps drivers navigate border crossings.

“This has been a great opportunity to work with so many amazing people from the opposite side of the world and take the time to understand their problems and their perspective,” he says. He also got to work with peers from the Namibian University of Science and Technology—an invaluable way to make connections and gain global understanding.

Josh also secured a co-op with ExxonMobil in Louisiana at the Baton Rouge Chemical Plant during his senior year. He anticipates this opportunity will bring him one step closer to his goal of a career as a process engineer for a company in the gas and oil industry.

The community Josh has built around him makes WPI feel like a place where he belongs. “Everyone knows that studying engineering and science is difficult,” he says, “so everyone supports each other and helps one another out. In addition, I have really gotten to enjoy the Worcester community. I have met so many nice people who invite me and other WPI students over for holiday meals, and it's a really great opportunity to establish a home away from home.”

When he is working at his Admissions Office job, Josh likes to impart words of wisdom. “My biggest advice would be to say, 'yes,'” he says. “Whether that be to joining a club, working with a professor on a research project, or taking a day trip to the Cape. There are so many opportunities to be taken advantage of while you're at WPI, so it is important to say 'yes'.”

Josh takes his own advice. He joined the student newspaper, The Towers, in his freshman year and steadily worked up the ranks to become co-editor-in-chief. “I want to make sure it is something we can be proud of,” he says, “because the writers put so much effort into their article contributions.”