Auburn Schwartzmeyer

Where are you from?

Bergen, NY - a small town northwest of the Finger Lakes.

Why did you choose UB?

I choose UB because of its location and wide offerings for engineering programs. The clubs and research opportunities are broad and allow me to dive deeper into the topics that interest me.

What do you like most about engineering at UB?

The sense of community among the students is amazing. There are people I've known since freshman year that I still see every day, yet I always find new faces who are immediately welcomed into the engineering groups.

Why did you choose Mechanical Engineering?

I originally came to UB as a civil engineering major. I joined a club here for civil engineering that provided a broad scope of what to expect in the industry, but I decided that wasn't for me. After some research, I decided to switch to mechanical engineering because of how broad the industry is, and how many different areas within it that I am interested in.

What do you do on campus and in the community?

I'm currently the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) president, working on mostly administrative matters and club opportunities.

I joined SAE when looking for involvement opportunities. After I decided to switch from civil to mechanical engineering, SAE gives me the opportunity to put what I learned in the classroom to use. I was able to use the software and skills I was being tested on in classes to help design and fabricate parts for projects in both the Clean Snowmobile and Baja teams.

What are you working on right now?

Right now, I'm working on finalizing our battle bot for Engineers' Week, along with finding funding opportunities for our Baja and Clean Snowmobile teams.

What have you done that you are most proud of?

I am most proud of my involvement in SAE. As the first female president in the club's history, I've definitely faced many challenges, but I've also learned many skills I would not have otherwise found in other areas. This has strengthened my leadership skills in the engineering community, and has also taught me how to effectively collaborate and communicate with teammates to a higher degree.

Has there been a particular faculty or staff member that has been especially influential during your time at UB?  

Dr. Christine Human has had a positive impact on me during my time at UB so far. In my first semester, she contacted me (since I was a scholarship recipient in her domain) to see how I was doing and if I needed any assistance in my first semester. Along with that, she has provided continuous help with several issues SAE has faced during my time here. She almost always has a solution and is willing to help implement them to make sure our needs are met as a club, and by extension, me as a student.

What are your future plans?

My future plans are to either enter the industry following graduation, or enter graduate school for engineering education or materials science.

What is your advice for prospective students?

My advice to prospective students is to talk to your peers. You're all in the same boat and experience mostly the same courseloads - having study buddies and teammates is so incredibly helpful to your growth as a student and an engineer.