Alumni Testimonials
Engineering Technology (ET)
Britney Blanchard
The program was just was I needed! [The faculty] were all willing to go out of their
way and spend extra time with the students. READ MORE
Jesse Ardonne
I gained hands-on experience from a variety of project-oriented courses that enabled
me to complete several interesting projects like giving a Wii remote full functionality
on an Xbox 360. READ MORE
Industrial Technology (IT)
Steven Larson
The Industrial Technology program taught me valuable manufacturing techniques that
could be applied at businesses manufacturing anything from plastic water bottles to
rocket ships. READ MORE
Jimmy Miller
The Industrial Technology curriculum offers lots of hands-on experience and real world
applications that a majority of college grads never see. READ MORE
Jeremy Larson
I enjoyed the time I spent in the Industrial Technology program and in particular
the small classes and personalized attention that was given. READ MORE
Occupational Safety, Health & Environment (OSHE)
Tram Danh
With more safety professionals, there will be less accidents/injuries on the job.
Our mission is to make sure everyone goes to work and comes home safe regardless of
what their occupation is. READ MORE
Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT)
Dr. Mihir Fnu, Integrated Science and Technology (Computer Science focus)
Southeastern provided hands-on training, mentoring as well as opportunities to collaborate.
I distinctly remember my conversations with my friends and mentors, stirring the ideas,
posing questions, and solving problems. READ MORE
Britney Blanchard earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology degree with
a concentration in Energy Engineering from Southeastern Louisiana University. During
her time at Southeastern, she was able to find an internship at Ford, Bacon and Davis.
The company works with chemical plants throughout the area on specialized engineering
and design projects and initiatives. She started out working in the Electrical and
Instrumentation department doing drafting on AutoCad for jobs the engineers and designers
drew. Upon graduation, she was offered a full time job with Ford, Bacon and Davis
as an Electrical Designer.
“Although I started my college career at another university in Electrical Engineering,
after my first year there, I learned about Southeastern’s Engineering Technology program.
I visited the college and the department head spent two hours showing me the labs
and talking with me about the program. The program was just was I needed! It was small,
personal, and full of hands-on learning. The faculty knew what was important to the
students, providing us with the information needed to reach our goals and succeed
in the workforce after graduation! They were all willing to go out of their way and
spend extra time with the students.
I have always wanted to work in the plants, and this job allows me to do that while
still being able to work in an office, doing engineering and designing work. I love
my job and would not be here if it wasn’t for Southeastern and its Engineering Technology
program and faculty.”
Jesse Ardonne earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with dual concentrations
in Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Technology from Southeastern Louisiana
University. He is currently attending Louisiana State University (LSU) in pursuit
of a PhD in Electrical Engineering. His responsibilities include research under Dr.
Peng in the Electrical Engineering department in the field of Computer Architecture.
“The Engineering Technology program at Southeastern put me exactly where I wanted
to be at the end of my undergraduate career. I had two years of undergraduate research
experience, internship experience, and the communication skills to reach out to employers.
I had options that made any career path possible.
After graduating with a dual concentration in Computer ET and Mechanical ET, I was
upholding an intern position at Oceaneering in Morgan City Louisiana where I continued through the beginning of August 2012. I
immediately was able to transition to working on research on LSU campus under an Economic
Development Assistantship. It was the wonderful faculty and staff who was able to
connect me to the employers and faculty of other universities to give me this privilege.
I gained hands-on experience from a variety of project-oriented courses that enabled
me to complete several interesting projects like giving a Wii remote full functionality
on an Xbox 360. Southeastern offered a wonderful curriculum from a comfortable introduction
to a thorough explanation into the more advanced topics preparing me for graduate
school with productive labs accompanying the more relevant courses to industry. I
thoroughly enjoyed all 183 credit hours at Southeastern and feel it has prepared me
well for graduate school and all other future endeavors.”
Steven Larson earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology from Southeastern
Louisiana University. He was president of the NAIT Student Chapter and a student government
member. Steven owned and operated a small business in college performing facilities
maintenance for commercial and residential clients. Upon graduation, he landed a job
at Pala Industries as a Planner. Shortly thereafter, Steven joined The Boeing Company
as Facilities Industrial Engineer and moved in to several other titles including Facilities
Project Manager, Facilities Analyst, and Facilities Manager.
“The Computer Science & Industrial Technology Department at Southeastern helped me
in many ways prepare for my position as a facilities manager. I felt and still feel
that the Industrial Technology program taught me valuable manufacturing techniques
that could be applied at businesses manufacturing anything from plastic water bottles
to rocket ships. I was very confident that my education paired with my past experience
as a blue collar worker I would find a great job somewhere in the US.
One of the unique courses I took was a summer course in which we toured various factories
in the area. I met valuable contacts and learned what really went on behind the scenes
on each tour. As the president of NAIT’s Student Chapter at Southeastern, I tried
to help the members understand that networking was the most important part of being
a NAIT member. Not only could we possibly help each other find jobs one day, but getting
out and touring may help us find that first job out of college.
Many other valuable courses included how to read and draw prints, and one of my favorites
was materials and processes. Boeing is focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics), so the Southeastern Industrial and Engineering Technology Department
falls directly in line with our current and future needs.”
Jimmy Mille
r earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration
in Supervision from Southeastern Louisiana University. Upon graduation, he spent several
years in Baton Rouge, working with industrial instrumentation and automation distributors
or manufacturers – mostly with Siemens and ABB. Jimmy recently took a position with
Emerson Process Management as the Global Business Development Manager for their Process
Safety System Platform – the piece in a plant that prevents any type of catastrophes,
explosions, etc.
“I have had a very successful career since Southeastern. I think my military background,
education by a great staff at Southeastern, lots of hands on experience while I was
still in school, and a good bit of luck all contributed to that success! My interests
swung from Loss Prevention to construction management. I worked for an industrial
electrical and instrumentation contractor during college and after graduation. I had
the opportunity to take a position as an automation (Mostly PLC) technical support
guy and I was hooked! Everything just progressed from there. I went from tech support,
to field services, startup specialist, product specialist, and ultimately into a sales
role. After all of that soul searching, I realized that sales is where I belong. One
thing I quickly realized was: (1) There are very few sales people that are good at
what they do; (2) Having a hands-on background is invaluable in the way you approach
the sales process and actually gives value to the customers you sell to; and (3) I
REALLY like talking to people and sharing what I know to help solve their problems!
The Industrial Technology curriculum offers lots of hands-on experience and real world
applications that a majority of college grads never see.”
Jeremy Larson earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with dual concentrations
in Supervision and Automated Systems from Southeastern Louisiana University. He is
currently an Integrated Scheduler for The Boeing Company and in the past has held
several titles (Master Scheduler, Scheduler, Maximo Representative and Cost Control)
for KBR (Kellogg Brown and Root) for numerous clients, including: Shell, BP, Motiva,
DuPont, and Texas Instruments.
“I enjoyed the time I spent in the Industrial Technology program and in particular
the small classes and personalized attention that was given. The professors and mentors
were very understanding and helpful on guiding us to a productive future. I would
like to take this opportunity to especially thank Professor Anthony Blakeney. I was
an officer in two of the on-campus organizations (NAIT and AWS); both of these help
me with my Networking and Social skills.
Some of the most helpful classes for my career include: Auto CADD, Production Planning,
Material and Processes and the Computer Science Excel/Access. All of these courses
use the same information that I use daily for my job as a Scheduler.”
Tram Danh earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety, Health & Environment
from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is currently working for Boasso America
(a tanks transportation company) in Chalmette, Louisiana as a Compliance Safety Coordinator.
Her responsibilities extend past Safety issues to include worker’s compensation, OSHE
300 logs, chemical waste, and working with the DOT.
“I really enjoyed those semesters being an OSHE student. Some of my favorite courses
included Ergonomics, Accident Investigation, and Environment Science. Our professors/instructors
are very helpful when we need them.”
The Occupational Safety, Health & Environment program not only taught us safety, but
much more in life. With more safety professionals, there will be less accidents/injuries
on the job. Our mission is to make sure everyone goes to work and comes home safe
regardless of what their occupation is. Southeastern is the only school that offers
a 4-year program in OSHE that prepares graduates for a wide variety of careers. I
am a Safety Compliance Coordinator, my classmates may be moving toward Loss Prevention,
working for EPA, working for DOT, or even OSHA.”
Dr. Mihir Fnu earned a Masters degree in Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT –
Computer Science focus) and a Doctor of Education degree from Southeastern Louisiana
University. He is currently the Director of National Research and Policy for the Association
for Institutional Research which is based in Tallahassee, Florida. Prior to this position,
Dr. Fnu was the Director of Institutional Research at Norwalk Community College and
also held a position in the Office of Institutional Research at Nicholls State University.
“My transition of being an international student to becoming a researcher developing
methodological analysis on national datasets and advocating best policies began at
Southeastern. I saw Southeastern fostering educational motives and advantageously
creating sustainable academic paths. Particularly, the ISAT and ED.D programs I pursued
strategically tied program objectives and learning outcomes to capitalize the potential
educational capacities of individual students, thoroughly and purposefully. Southeastern
provided hands-on training, mentoring as well as opportunities to collaborate. I distinctly
remember my conversations with my friends and mentors, stirring the ideas, posing
questions, and solving problems. The experience, as it should be, was very educational.
Worth mentioning are the conversations on educational values and the implications
for equity, access, and affordability of education. Being a Computer Science major
in the Masters program didn’t stop me from understanding and participating in discussions
on transformational and global pedagogies, multicultural education issues, academic
achievement and the ways those relationships contribute to critical evaluation of
the interplay and outcomes within educational paradigms. Such rich conversations helped
me to develop new conceptual frameworks through which impartial educational achievements
are acknowledged across all students groups. I personally thank my mentors in the
ISAT program and in the College of Education. I am confident that the university continues
to serve, educate and empower students building an educated and sustainable workforce.”
