2018 FALL LC MAGAZINE

MAKING CONNECTIONS AND CHANGING LIVES Bobby Cook was a senior when Jake McDonough entered as a freshman at Lycoming. “Bobby was the lab/recitation instructor for my introductory physics classes,” said McDonough. “I knew that he went on to get a Ph.D. in polymer science from the University of Southern Mississippi, and I often thought about pursuing graduate school.” It was towards the end of McDonough’s doctoral program at Drexel University that he attended a Lycoming alumni event in Merion, Pa. “It was a lovely event, and I enjoyed meeting President Trachte and reconnecting with many friends, including Bobby.” “I remembered Jake, who was one of my star students in that physics class 10 years earlier,” said Cook. “After spending some time catching up, I realized that we took very similar paths in graduate school and that I had some folks in my network who would benefit from Jake’s research background once he graduated. A few months later, Jake was hired and working with one of my colleagues.” “It was such a small gesture for Bobby to make that introduction, but that one act has truly shaped my career and changed my life,” commented McDonough. “That is also one of the many reasons to attend colleges like Lycoming — to create an invaluable network.” ALUMNI MAKING STRIDES IN Bobby Cook ’06 (physics) “Since high school I’ve had an interest in science, and I knew I wanted to study physics and engineering in college. I currently serve as global business development manager for a multi-national aerospace engineering company named e-Xstream engineering. I primarily work out of my home in the Philadelphia area, but also spend significant time traveling the globe working with customers to solve their high performance material engineering challenges. I’ve always had the opinion that Lycoming’s most valuable product is well-rounded students. To be successful in a STEM career you need to be capable technically, but just as important, you need to be a confident and effective communicator. I credit Lycoming for providing me with both the technical background and the interpersonal soft skills to be as effective in the lab as I am in the boardroom. Science folks who can effectively speak to their audience aren’t as common as you’d think, which makes them incredibly valuable to employers across a broad range of career opportunities.” Jake McDonough ’09 (physics) “I am a business development engineer, focusing on the sports equipment market for North America. Essentially, I work with major sports brands to develop next generation, high performance materials for cleats, running shoes, helmets, etc. You wouldn’t believe how much technology goes into an NFL cleat! Arkema is a specialty materials company that employs 20,000 people around the globe, with my office in King of Prussia, Pa. Studying physics and chemistry at Lycoming allowed me to approach any science/ engineering problem with confidence. Physics teaches you the fundamentals of science that can be applied to any area, which in my case was electrochemistry and energy storage. I am an engineer, which obviously requires STEM skills, but there are so many other areas that a liberal arts education touches that I use every day: business, communications, accounting, and creative writing. The list keeps going, but the point is that in today’s society, a well-rounded education is essential to success, regardless of your field.” 22 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2018 FALL MAGAZINE