Why did you choose to study at Illinois?

I came to the University of Illinois originally to study as a doctoral student in music. I aspired at the time to a career as a music professor, but after completing the coursework here and teaching full time for a year at a school on the West Coast, I found it just wasn’t for me. Since then, I have enjoyed a career as a performing musician on organ, harpsichord, and piano, and as a choir director, in addition to working as a pipe organ builder for several years. I’ve always been interested in a variety of things, and one of those things that stuck was automobile fuel efficiency. That led me to the engineering program at Parkland College and ultimately back to U of I as a transfer student.

Why aerospace engineering?

Well, it’s been a circuitous journey to get here. Years ago, I was working as music director at a church in Mattoon and commuting from Champaign. Because I was spending so much on gasoline, I started searching the internet for ways to improve the fuel economy of my car. That led me to start reading about aerodynamics and ultimately to a desire to study aerodynamics and engineering in depth so I could understand it better. The best engineering discipline for that, by far, seemed to be aerospace engineering. I just got lucky that one of the best aerospace programs in the country was right here where I lived, so after completing the engineering science program at Parkland I decided to apply here and see where it would lead me.

Who helped you most?

I don’t think any one course has impacted me so much as seeing how aerodynamics play into so many topics and connect them. Controls lab, senior design, propulsion—all of them incorporate and depend on aerodynamics. That said, the courses I have enjoyed most are the aerodynamics-specific ones, especially the aero and propulsion lab course.

What helped you gain technical expertise?

Of course, the main driver of my developing technical expertise in engineering has been coursework—in materials and structures, aerodynamics, controls, systems design, sustainability, etc. But outside of that, I have tried to connect class material to real-world experience. For example, after an incompressible flows lecture on two-dimensional versus three-dimensional aerodynamics, I went out and measured static pressure across the windshield of my car to see how it varied side-to-side.

One homework problem in the same class dealt with a jet pump design, so I built one in my garage to see it in action. After we learned how to use a sustainability analysis tool in sustainable aviation this semester, I used it to estimate the total emissions impact of my own car and decide whether it would be worthwhile for me to replace it with an EV. That sort of hands-on experience and application has always been important to me, and it has helped me connect theory to practice.

Did you have a professor you'd like to give a shout out to?

Oh wow, it’s hard to pick just one. Prof. Ansell’s course in sustainable aviation has changed how I think about sustainability in transportation and caused me to really consider how my own activities and choices impact the world; I’ve bothered him a lot at office hours this semester talking through my developing thoughts on this issue.

Where did you find community at Illinois?

As an older student, I was very nervous about relating to the other undergraduates and whether I would fit in. Those fears turned out to be unfounded; I have been constantly and consistently impressed with how mature and thoughtful the students here are. There’s a group of us that came in as transfers at the same time and have ended up doing a lot of group projects and coursework together. I hear about the current slang from them, and I hope they enjoy hearing a little about what it was like to grow up before smartphones.

Describe a challenge you faced and how you resolved it? 

The biggest challenge by far has been maintaining my career in music while attending school. This experience has given me new appreciation for the art of time management and increased my reliance on an online calendar to keep track of where I’m supposed to be and when.

Another challenge has been grappling with technology; I never thought of myself as technologically adept when it comes to things like coding, preferring instead to build things hands-on. But I’ve found that coding is mostly about the logic of solving problems; if I can think through a problem carefully, I can usually figure out how to code a solution (with help from the teaching staff and other students). That has been an invaluable lesson in how to approach problems in general, and in the value of community and asking for help.

What extracurricular experience stands out as memorable for you?

I worked with Illini Solar Car my first year here. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to continue with it as my professional obligations and course load ramped up but I very much enjoyed my time on the team.

Outside of school, I have continued to compete in the Green Grand Prix, a fuel economy competition that takes place at Watkins Glen Raceway every spring. Each year, I try and implement modifications to my car to improve its fuel economy for the competition, and as I’ve learned more about things like aerodynamics and energy efficiency it has improved my preparation for that event.  

What's next for you?

Right now, I have no specific plans other than taking some time off after being so busy the last couple of years. I have a pile of books on my “to read” list so I’m planning to work my way through those, as well as a number of planned projects on my car to further modify its aerodynamics. As I think about career change options and what I want to do, I’m also considering doing a “stunt” efficiency drive, something like Champaign-Urbana to Detroit and back on a single tank of fuel in my Prius, for example.

What's on your bucket list for the next five years?

Oh gosh, I’ve still got tons of things on my bucket list! See a tornado in person, fly on a 747, visit the Henry Ford Museum, see Death Valley and the Grand Canyon, design and build a solar house. I’ve also got a list of organs in Europe I still want to visit, across France and Germany, and like any organist I dream of visiting Bach’s grave in Leipzig someday. 

Any parting thoughts?

If someone had asked me 5 years ago where I would be now, I never would have guessed my answer would be “graduating with an aerospace engineering degree from the University of Illinois.” I expect the next 5 years to be as much of an adventure!