The decisions we make in our young academic career are the choices that will influence the rest of our lives. One of those decisions is whether or not to attend graduate school. The institution and curriculum are also decisions that are oftentimes not easy to make. Like many individuals, I.ve spent a lot of time and energy worrying about the many choices I had before me.

I graduated from a small high school in Northern Ohio and came to Miami during the fall of 1988. Thinking that I may want to go to medical school, I majored in Chemistry. By the end of my second year at Miami, I realized that I lacked the desire to dedicate my life to the medical profession; however, I still wanted to pursue a post-graduate education. During the next two years at Miami, I performed some undergraduate research in the Chemistry department and was accepted at several major universities to pursue my Doctorate degree in Chemistry. Still unsure of my career path, I decided not to spend the next 4-6 years pursuing my Doctorate degree in Chemistry, but rather, learn more about the field of Engineering. Recognizing that Miami had a very reputable Paper Science and Engineering graduate program, I knew that it would allow me to take some engineering classes and work on an independent project. The other benefit was that it was only a two-year program.

After finishing my Masters degree in Paper Science and Engineering, I went on to pursue my Doctorate degree in Wood and Paper Science from North Carolina State University. After graduation, I began working as a Wet End Chemist for Mead Central Research in Chillicothe, Ohio. Currently, I am a Senior Technical Services Engineer for the Coated Ohio Operations in Chillicothe, Ohio.

My responsibilities at Mead Central Research included troubleshooting wet end paper machine problems in the Mead facilities across the country. My work involved resolving chemistry imbalances, troubleshooting deposit problems, and implementing the latest in on-line control technology. Currently, I work as an engineer in the Coated Mill in Chillicothe, Ohio. My work includes trialing new paper grades on different machines, working with engineering to upgrade steam systems, evaluating the need for paper machine rebuilds for the future, and reducing the variable costs of our products. I also help resolve the day to day runnability problems of the machines and strive to optimize the quality of our paper.

The experience I gained in the Paper Science and Engineering graduate program at Miami helped prepare and propel me towards an exciting career in the paper industry. As a researcher and student, it equipped me with the tools to complete my Doctorate degree. The professors at Miami were very supportive of my progress and, most importantly, treated me a colleague. With a Bachelors degree in Chemistry, the knowledge gained in the Engineering field helped round out my academic career, making me significantly more marketable. Technically, my graduate experience taught me (1) how to develop a working plan, (2) where to look for the right answers, and (3) how to draw accurate conclusions from my observations. More recently, I.ve realized that my academic training also taught me how to take risks and how to manage those risks. Risk taking and creativity are attributes that put us two steps ahead of the competition.

With the academic experience offered in the Paper Science graduate program, the opportunities are really up to the individual. A graduate can choose from a variety of fields. Whether one chooses to work in the area of chemistry, biology, engineering, environmental, computers, or sales and marketing, the industry offers them all. The rewards are dependent on how hard you want to work and the lifestyle you choose. Either way, it.s your choice. Obtaining a Masters degree from the Miami University.s Paper Science and Engineering program is something that I will always hold in the highest regard.