Job Corner with Ms. Whelton, PE

This section is prepared for the newsletter by Ms. Margaret Whelton, PE. She is the SEE Manager of Industrial Experience. The responsibilities of this position include working with industry to secure internships, co-ops, and full-time job opportunities for students; developing real world senior design and research projects; and facilitating partnerships between industry and Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering. She has twelve years of experience as a practicing environmental engineer prior to becoming part of SEE.  She is a registered professional engineer in Indiana, Virginia, and Alabama. 

One of the best ways to find out about job opportunities and secure employment is by networking. Many people talk about how important networking is to finding opportunities.  But you may be wondering, how do I go about networking?  I’m not sure where to start or what “networking” really means.  Per the Merriam-Webster dictionary, networking is “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically: the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business”.  

So who would be the group you would “network” with?  Anyone-friends, family, friends of family members, professors, Purdue students, people you meet (at dinner, coffee shops, conferences i.e. anywhere), professionals at career fairs.  The point of networking is to establish a relationship and common interest with someone.  The best way to do this per Keith Ferrazzi in his book “Never Eat Alone” is to adopt a “giving mindset” when meeting someone.  What does this mean?  When you met a person, instead of automatically thinking about (and directly conversation toward) how to have the relationship benefit you, think about how to connect with and help the other person.  And continue to help them. Relationships are a two way street.  If you sincerely help others and want to get to know them, they will want to help you out in the future.  You are working towards building a positive reputation and genuine connection with that person.  Networks take time to build.  In the future, your connections will be more likely to help you. 

This may seem like your network is composed only of people you have a significant relationship with.  You should also establish and maintain weak ties-people you don’t frequently see, but who you would be comfortable asking for help.  Weak ties will probably be a significant part of your professional connections—you don’t have time to maintain deep relationships with everyone.  You still need to keep “regular” contact with these people-and not by including them on a group email or text.  Let them know how you’re doing/ask how they are doing once in a while. Maybe this is someone you see periodically at an event, it could be just once a year.  Or perhaps you could wish them a happy birthday or congratulate them on their work anniversary and see how they are doing.  Since this part of your network will be composed of quite a few diverse people, this is probably where you will find out the most about opportunities. 

So now we come to your “ask”.  Don’t be afraid to let people in your network know you are looking for an environmental internship or full time job, in a specific location/region (if you prefer) and see if they know of any positions or someone who may be able to help.  Make sure your ask is specific, it makes it easier for the other person to process the request and give you helpful information.  “I’m looking for a job” isn’t very specific and won’t give the other person enough information to be able to help you.  And don’t forget to be polite when you ask.  You never know who your acquaintances know, so ask!

Here is a link to the summary of the book “Never Eat Alone” that gives you great tips on topics to discuss when you first meet someone, how to approach someone/start a conversation at a conference, etc.  https://medium.com/karlbooklover/never-eat-alone-6a50a73e9d15

Learning how to network doesn’t just benefit you now, it will help you throughout your career and your life.  The sooner you start, the better you will get at connecting to others and the stronger and larger your network will become over time. 

POTR 360 Computers

Over Fall Break, all computers in POTR 360 will be removed and replaced with 6 new computers. If you require software that is missing from the new computers, please email see@purdue.edu and it will be installed. 

Homecoming:  COUNTING DOWN TO FIRST SEE/EEE TAILGATE!

We’re just days away from our inaugural EEE tailgate — and we want to see you there!

Ross-Ade Stadium T Lot
Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Join fellow alumni, faculty, friends and current students and enjoy:
·        Food from Crabby Mike’s
·        SEE swag
·        Tailgate games
·        Welcome remarks from Fehsenfeld Family Head John Sutherland

This is your chance to connect, reconnect, celebrate and Boiler Up before the Purdue Boilermakers take on Rutgers.

Click here to RSVP: http://bit.ly/3KcVU7l

OPP Hall of Fame: Angela Jenkins, SEE EAC Member is Inducted

Angela Jenkins, SEE External Advisory Council member, is being inducted to the Office of Professional Practice Hall of Fame this week.  She will be participating in a panel Thursday night as part of the induction. All EEE students are encouraged to attend!

Thursday, October 16th: Hall of Fame Q&A Panel - See flyer
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM in STEW 190 (Admissions Theater)
Join us for a Q&A Panel with distinguished alumni from the Co-op Hall of Fame! Inductees have significant achievements and contribute to Purdue student success. This is a great opportunity to network with some of Purdue's top achieving alumni who serve as founders and executives.

Angela Jenkins
CHE '88 & CE '89 (President, Jenkins EH&S Consulting, Former RPM International, Former SABIC, Former Ascend Performance Materials Operations, LLC., Former E.I Du Pont De Nemours & Co.)

James (Jim) Durkin
IE'82 (Founding Partner, The Martec Group)

Jeremy Koehler
ME '09 (VP of R&D, Acoustic Wave Cell Therapy, Former Claria Medical, Former Expanse Medical, Former NXT Biomed, Former Prescient Surgical)

Megan Mauck
ME ’06, MBA ‘24 (Senior Vice President of Technical Operations, NBC Universal)

Erin Murphy
ME '94 (Process Excellence Leader of Dental Solutions, Solventum, Former 3M)

Mary Werner
CHE ‘05 (R&D Director of Specialty Beauty, Procter & Gamble)

EEE Combined Degree Program & Info Session

All BS-EEE students interested in the Combined Degree Program (4+1 BS/MS-EEE Program) are invited to join an info. session on October 28^th from 12:30 to 1:00PM in POTR 234 from the SEE Grad. Program. We will be available for questions from 1:00-1:30PM in POTR 234 as well. See the flyer for brief information about the Program. Questions? Contact Michelle from the SEE Grad. Office at indarjit@purdue.edu.

Students with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better are encouraged to consider applying to the EEE Combined Degree program during their junior year, generally the 6th semester (essentially when you have 2 remaining semesters yet to complete the BS degree).  Email seegrad@purdue.edu with specific questions. You can also get general guidance from your EEE Faculty Mentor, your EEE advisor, Michelle Indarjit or Prof. Fu Zhao.  See the following link for details: https://engineering.purdue.edu/EEE/Academics/CurrentStudents/Graduate/CombinedDegreeProgram.

SEE Travel Assistance Scholarship

Looking for a funding opportunity to assist with costs associated with your Study Abroad, Global Experience, Service-Learning Project, Conference, etc.?  Students seeking monetary assistance for travel costs associated with studying abroad, presenting research or other educational activities should have an initial discussion concerning the intended program with Tammi Thayer to determine if they are eligible.

Apply at https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE/Engagement/Travel_Assistance_Request_Form

Applications for this round are due October 30. 

London Study Abroad 2026: Water and Infrastructure Resilience

Join Prof. Whelton in his study abroad to London from March 14th to March 22nd, 2026 and learn about how man-made disasters are impacting public health and how professionals are working to support critical infrastructure. Students will earn 3 credits in EEE495. See the flyer or view the website: Water and Infrastructure Resilience: Public Health and Extreme Events - London, UK

SEE Study Abroad

Interested in studying abroad? Here are the steps you should take: 

Meet with the Purdue Study Abroad office FIRST!  See how you can connect with them at https://www.purdue.edu/gpp/sa/about/appointment.html

Visit the Engineering Study Abroad Course Equivalency Database

Read the Studying Abroad in SEE page.  This includes a link to the EEE Qualtrics info survey. 

Complete the EEE Qualtrics info survey – it is required before meeting with your EEE advisor or EEE liaison.  It was created to guide students through the basic study abroad resources prior to meeting with their advisor, with the hope that it helps students to be more aware of existing resources and empowers them long-term on how to find appropriate help. In addition, follow up meetings with the EEE advisor can now be less focused on the basics and more productive focusing on real needs and questions.

AFTER you’ve completed the survey, you can make an appt with Tammi or Maeve if you’d like to discuss how to optimize your plan of study to incorporate abroad courses.

JCPenney Suit-Up Event

Get Career Ready with JCPenney Suit-Up! Students, staff, and faculty can text BOILERS to 67292 to receive a one-time 30% off coupon. This year’s sale goes beyond suits - shop discounts on workwear and scrubs too! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e_NqBsBv es.

Department of Energy WDTS Summer Internship Fair

On November 6th, 2025 the U.S. Department of Energy is hosting an online Internship Fair for the summer of 2026. See more information on the flyer. Register here: https://lnkd.in/exmJrdMU

LEED Green Associate Certification

EEE students should understand that LEED is one professional certification. Earning a PE license in engineering requires considerably more education, knowledge and experience, and all EEE graduates are qualified to eventually earn a PE license, which is significantly more valuable. On occasion, an EEE student will ask about LEED. LEED is more within the domain of the Arch Engr group within Civil. The LEED Green Associate (GA) credential is the only entry level sustainability designation and shows employers and clients that you have certified knowledge in the green building industry. Most people can take a short course and pass the LEED certification test. As a courtesy, the following info is being provided. It is not required or necessarily endorsed.

LEED Green Associate (GA) Training - Webinar and Online self-paced options:

LeadingGreen will be offering live webinars that can be streamed on any of the following dates:

1. October 4 2025 – 1:00PM – 5:30PM EDT

2. November 15 2025 – 1:00PM – 5:30PM EST

3. December 20 2025 – 1:00PM – 5:30PM EST -OR- 

4. On-demand recordings completed at your own pace

The above options (1-4) are all identical.

Register for a live webinar or start today with on-demand recorded workshops completed anytime at your own pace here - https://leadinggreen.com/online

Explore the webinars – complete with comprehensive training, practice exams, valuable tips, and a textbook - facilitated by a USGBC Faculty member.
Cost: $200 with the code 'green' for students (non-students $300)

Register here for live or self-paced options - https://leadinggreen.com/online

Please contact the instructor Lorne directly with any questions at info@leadinggreen.com. 

EEE47200: Community-Engaged Engineering Design

Those interested in this Spring 2026 course must send a resume and statement of interest to Dr. Lindsey Payne (paynel@purdue.edu) by November 7th at 5pm. More information can be found on the flyer.

Winter Session 2025

Registration is officially open for Purdue’s 3-week Winter Session, running Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 to Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. This is your opportunity to earn three credits over winter break by completing an asynchronous online course or joining a short-term Study Abroad program.

The Winter 2025 schedule of classes is available in your myPurdue portal. Be sure to discuss potential winter courses with your academic advisor during your spring registration advising appointment to ensure they fit your plan of study.

Registration Details

- Winter courses fill on a first-come, first-served basis.

- Use Scheduling Assistant and your Fall PIN to register.

- Learn more about how to register. 

BoilerConnect Student

BoilerConnect Student is the student-facing side of BoilerConnect, designed to help students maximize their success at Purdue. It is available as an app called "Navigate360 Student" or via desktop (https://purdue.navigate.eab.com/). Students can schedule appointments, connect to resources, receive reminders, create checklists, form study groups, ask for help, and more.

Pre-Professional Advising Services

Pre-Professional Advising serves Purdue West Lafayette and Indianapolis students and alumni who are exploring, preparing, or applying to professional programs in healthcare and law. There are three preprofessional advisors and they all specialize in healthcare and law – students can see any one of them and are not assigned to a specific advisor. They are located on the second floor of Young Hall and are part of the Center for Career Opportunities. Their website provides information 24/7 to students and advisors including career guides, BoilerConnect scheduling instructions and our drop-in schedule, newsletter sign-up and calendar of events, and application tips.

Students are encouraged to schedule individual appointments with the Pre-Professional Advisors to discuss strategies to explore the career path of interest to them, classes they need to take, healthcare or law related activities to participate in, preparing for admissions exams, and the application process. They also offer mock interview appointments for current applicants to healthcare programs. Their appointments are virtual, but students can request an in-person appointment when scheduling.

Two classes are offered through the PPA office each semester. BIOL 39600 Premedical Planning Seminar (0 credits, 10-weeks) is open to all pre-health students (not just premeds), typically juniors or seniors, who want an in-depth understanding of the application process. GS 490000 Law School Exploration (1 credit, 10-weeks) is open to students of any year who are interested in exploring a career in law and the law school application process.

The office also hosts the Health Programs Expo each spring. Next year’s event will take place Monday, February 23, 2026 from 2pm-5pm in the PMU North & South Ballrooms. All pre-health students and advisors and faculty who work with them, are encouraged to attend. Registration is not required for participants. This is a wonderful opportunity for pre-health students to talk directly to healthcare degree program representatives and ask questions about their requirements, characteristics of a competitive applicant to their program, scholarship or financial aid questions, etc. Information about programs attending will be on our website in February.

Pre-Professional Advisors are willing to speak to clubs, classes, advisors, etc. If an advising office or instructor would like to invite them to speak, please fill out the form here. You can follow the Pre-Professional team on Instagram @purdueppa.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS is here to support students. Anyone seeking services can be seen for brief screen on the same day or next day when requesting services. Students can schedule these appointments online, by contacting the main line at 765-494-6995, or coming to PUSH. During the same day/next day brief screen appointment, the counselor and student develop a support plan and identify next steps. The longest wait for the next appointment is when a student wants individual counseling and the current wait for the next appointment is 2-3 weeks for a Routine Initial Consultation while an Urgent Initial Consultation is 1-2 days. 

See the Fall 2025 Welcome Letter, Let's Talk Drop-in Flyer, Anxiety Toolbox Flyer, or Wellness Workshop Poster for more information on CAPS events this semester. 

Academic Success Center (ASC)

The ASC offers a collection of services and programs designed to help students be successful in the classroom. Be proactive and review available resources now. Don’t wait till things get difficult to manage.  ASC provides:  Study Skills Consultations, Peer Success Coaching, Supplemental Instruction (SI), Workshops, Accountability Groups, and much more.  See ASC’s offerings at https://www.purdue.edu/asc/. 

QUESTIONS? For more specific information about each service, be sure to check out their homepages, or Email academicsuccess@purdue.edu, call 765-494-4700, or visit Wiley C215.

Some of the Fall 2025 events include: 

• Workshop Schedule - They will be offering 9 workshops throughout the semester. All of the workshop descriptions and links to register are available here.

• Accountability Groups – They are offering 14 Accountability Groups this semester. Students can view group times and join here. These groups provide students with consistent, dedicated study time, peer connection and support, and academic skill development. 

• Peer Success Coaching – The Fall 2025 Peer Success Coach Request Form is now open. Peer Success Coaches serve as a point person for students as they navigate life at Purdue. Coaches function as guides, listeners, and motivational partners. Think you could benefit? attend PSC drop-in hours or request a personal PSC.

• Supplemental Instruction (SI) - The Supplemental Instruction (SI) session and office hour schedule is live. Students enrolled in a SI linked course will also have a course titled Fall 2025 Supplemental Instruction on their Brightspace. This course will indicate session times, locations, leaders, and any changes made throughout the semester. 

• Study Skills Consultations - Study Skills Consultations are individual meetings (in-person or virtual) with a professional staff member to discuss academic skills and strategies related to time management, studying, exam preparation, etc. Students can schedule an appointment using BoilerConnect.

Did you miss a previous newsletter? Click here.