Momentum - The Magazine for Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2018 | Page 45

about alumni Damien McCants '03, '14 (MBA) What was your first reaction on coming to Virginia Tech and the campus? When I first got to campus, the summer of 1998, I thought it was big and in the middle of nowhere - coming from north- ern Virginia. Was there a single professor or other men- tor who helped guide you or shaped your time at VT, or who had a great influence on your career after graduation? My biggest influences at VT were Jan Reiss, mechanical engineering department advisor, and Bev Watford, associate dean, academic af- fairs and CEED director. They both helped me in making sure I had the right courses select- ed, my exposure to career fairs and companies, and even today, Bev's opinion is valued as I explore opportunities to stay engaged with Virginia Tech. As a student what activities did you enjoy the most? I enjoyed shooting pool at Squires and hanging out at Deet's Place. Graduating from VT and having more than one job offer. What do you think has been the single greatest change to the university since you graduated? The abundance of construction. It symboliz- es growth, but parking garages were not in the commuter lot and the cage was just a parking lot and didn't have buildings! What advice would you give to undergraduate mechanical engineers? Intern and co-op experience is invaluable, and utilize all the resources that the university offers. What is your proudest academic or professional achievement? MOMENTUM Know an ME alum you'd like to see profiled here? Send an email to [email protected] SUMMER 2018 PAGE 45