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?
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SUMMER 2018
PAGE 45