Hometown: Southington, Connecticut

Current year: Senior

Joey plays the mellophone for the Purdue All-American Marching band.

Why I chose Purdue Civil Engineering

I’ve had an interest in civil engineering from a young age actually. I remember back when I was a kid, my uncle asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I said things like “I want to be a fire fighter” and things like that. Then he asked if I ever thought about civil engineering. He then told me about all the amazing things civil engineers do in the world. So, from then on, I knew I wanted to be a civil engineer — and I quickly learned that Purdue University had one of the best civil engineering programs in the country, so I set my sights on coming here.

Emphasis area

My emphasis area is in Transportation Engineering. For a while, I had considered Structural Engineering, but after taking a few classes and through my co-op experience, I discovered that I loved the engineering behind roads, traffic, and intersections. It’s all so vital to our everyday lives and it’s becoming even more important as we transition to smart and connected cities and vehicles.

During his time at Purdue, Joey said he gained a greater interest in transportation engineering and now plans to enter the field as a transportation engineer after he earns his Master's degree.

Mellophonist

I play the mellophone for the Purdue All-American Marching Band. It has been an incredible experience my four years here — and it’s also another major reason why I wanted to study at Purdue. I’ve been able to travel with the team and performed across the nation for several of our sports teams.

After I graduate

After I graduate in May, I will be spending one more year here where I’ll earn my Master’s degree from the Lyles School of Civil Engineering through its 4+1 Program. There’s still more I want to learn and research before I enter the career the field and I believe this is the perfect way to set me up for lasting success.

A Connecticut native, Joey said he was able to find a community where he truly felt welcomed and accepted at Purdue.