Dumbira Odia
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Dumbiri OdiaMS ‘22 Hometown: Benin City, Nigeria Job: Research Assistant for UTC Program MS Program: Civil Engineering |
Why did you choose UTC CECS?
UTC CECS offered classes in the Civil Engineering department that are relevant to my planned professional growth. With further assessment of the program’s Faculty members and the faculty – student ratio, I realized I would have an opportunity for good interactions with the faculty members, and it would be vital in learning not just the content of the academic curriculum but the necessities and professional requirements of an engineer.
What is your career ambition and how is the MS program helping you get there?
I started off just wanting to improve my competence and efficiency in the field of construction and design. I can boldly say that I have achieved that and more. I was able to complete a graduate certification program in Construction Management and dived into the amazing world of transportation and research.
Now I can and want to contribute to the development of efficient transportation systems and infrastructures.
What have you liked about the MS program?
I have found the readiness and willingness of the faculty and staff members to help really fascinating. The interactions and relations with local organizations and companies are impactful on student development, and the provisions available to easy the learning process are commendable.
Did you take any online courses?
I did take some online courses and I loved the flexibility it offered. I was able to learn at my own pace and revisit lectures for clarity on items I initially missed.
What opportunities have you had during your degree to gain other skills?
I had a pretty short-lived experience as a Student Ambassador, and I enjoyed every moment it lasted. Most of my time was spent on research. The research opportunity helped me interact with professionals with years of experience under their belt, learn new skills and deeper contents of my study, and helped me build a passion around which my career is being remodeled.
Have you had support from CECS faculty/staff?
Wow! Where do I start from? I count myself as one of the lucky ones because all faculty and staff members of the Civil Engineering department have been more than supportive to me. Honorable mentions especially to Dr. Joseph Owino, Dr. Mbakisya Onyango, Dr. Ignatius Fomunung, Dr. Arash Ghasemi, Chris Frishcosy, Karen Lomen and Sara Jackson. These people have support me in ways I am extremely grateful for.
How has the program helped you?
The program has not only helped me grow as a professional engineer but has prepared me for an easy transition to my chosen career path. Access to development tools provided by the program like Handshake, Career Fairs, resume reviews, career launch, and other have been more than helpful for job hunts, skills and confidence development, and general awareness.
What has been the best part of your experience?
The connections made, and relationships built. This is the best part and the saddest part about graduating.
The CECS graduate program at UTC provides at an academic atmosphere ideal for the growth of professionals. It provides a good balance between learning and development, and a lot of tools and opportunities to help get you involved in extracurricular activities, research, internship, and leadership roles.
Deciding to join the program has been the best decision I’ve made so far.