Student Profile
Max Magee
BS, Aerospace Engineering, May 2023
Max Magee received the Dean's Undergraduate Achievement Award from Kemper Lewis, dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Where are you from?
I am from Honeoye Falls, N.Y., a village 15 miles south of Rochester in the town of Mendon.
Why did you choose to go into engineering?
I chose engineering because I enjoyed taking physics in high school and I love the process of identifying a problem, drafting unique solutions and then implementing the best one. Nothing beats the feeling of when the solution you chose actually works, preferably the way you intended.
What do you like most about engineering at UB?
Although UB is a large school, there is a sense of camaraderie among the engineering students that makes it feel like you are going to class with 200 friends rather than strangers.
What is your favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus is Stevens Courtyard. During the early fall and late spring, it’s nice to be able to enjoy the sun and hang out with friends between classes.
Max Magee studying in Stevens Courtyard, outside Davis Hall on UB's North Campus.
What have you done that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of the research I did and conference paper that I coauthored with Dr. Swenson, Department of Engineering Education, last year. Dr. Swenson has been an amazing person to work with, and I’m grateful that she gave me the opportunity to write a large portion of our conference paper despite me being an undergraduate and having little experience writing research papers. I am thrilled with how our paper turned out and I’m looking forward to taking on more challenges that are out of my comfort zone in the future.
Has there been a particular faculty or staff member that has been formative?
One of my favorite MAE professors is Dr. Darrall. He is very personable and I enjoy how he encourages students to work together during his class, which is more representative of how engineers solve problems in their careers. It’s not easy to get excited for a 100-minute class called “Intermediate Dynamics” where half of the Greek alphabet is used, but the promise of having an amazing professor helped.
What are your future plans?
After I graduate, I plan on entering the aerospace industry. I’d prefer to get a job in western New York to stay near my nephews.
What is your advice for prospective students?
My advice for prospective students is to do something that is out of their comfort zone. Most of my favorite memories I’ve made at UB have happened because I challenged myself by doing something I wouldn’t have done the day before.
Max Magee received the Dean's Undergraduate Achievement award in 2022.