A Blueprint for Career Success

Tufts alumnus Dan Byrne, E76, knows the value of a college internship. As a Tufts undergraduate, he completed several internships, setting him up for a successful career in entrepreneurship focused on temperature control and refrigeration systems. “My first internship at a Caterpillar Equipment Dealer in Syracuse opened my eyes to what is possible when young people are given meaningful opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Through hands-on experience and mentorship from accomplished engineers, I developed the confidence, work ethic, and perspective that continue to guide me today,” Byrne said.

For many Tufts students, hands-on experiences are where their future begins to take shape. With a bold new initiative that aims to create high-quality experiential learning opportunities for all engineering undergraduates, Engineering Blueprint offers a way for every student to begin drafting their career path. The initiative is backed by a comprehensive plan that includes strengthened academic advising, updates to the undergraduate curriculum, career center resources, and more.

Byrne is the first contributor to Engineering Blueprint. “I am proud to support Blueprint because I believe in the transformative power of opportunity and the impact it can have on a student’s future. My own internships as a Tufts student were pivotal experiences that helped shape the trajectory of my career. Investments in experiential learning create ripple effects that extend far beyond a single student, empowering generations of Tufts graduates to make lasting contributions in their professions and communities,” Byrne said. 

Expanding Experiential Learning at Tufts

Many early career opportunities for students are unpaid or underpaid, creating a barrier for students who need to earn money over the summer. Students may also lack the professional networks, guidance, or experience needed to secure positions. Engineering Blueprint hopes to alleviate these financial and logistical constraints so that every student can participate in formative career experiences. Although the initiative is still in its early stages, the ultimate goal is for every undergraduate engineering student to have access to an experiential learning opportunity during their first two years at Tufts.

In many ways, experiential learning is already a cornerstone of a Tufts education. In research labs, startups, community projects, clubs, and industry settings, students put their classroom knowledge into action. Engineering Blueprint takes Tufts’ commitment to experiential learning a step further and creates a school-wide infrastructure that intentionally nurtures hands-on learning and career readiness.

The initiative will draw on opportunities from schools across the Tufts ecosystem, including the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Friedman School of Nutrition, and The Fletcher School, to offer a rich variety of experiences. Students may also pursue internships or co-ops at external organizations, benefiting from the abundance of engineering and technology companies in the Boston area.

To help expand these learning opportunities, the School of Engineering hired Associate Director of Experiential Partnership Development Mark Almeida. In his newly created role, Almeida will create scalable pathways for a significantly expanded pipeline of internships, projects, mentored research opportunities, service experiences, and more.

Professional development will be embedded into the curriculum from the start. The new required first-year engineering course, Foundations for Engineering Success (EN3), prepares all students to embrace their experiential learning opportunities with confidence. Along the way, regular connection with advising, preparation, and reflection resources will ensure that students fully benefit from their hands-on experiences.

Alumni Support Facilitates Meaningful Career Growth for Students

True to its name, Engineering Blueprint doesn’t require students to set their futures in stone but encourages them to gain hands-on experience in their first few years at Tufts to help them feel more prepared as they decide what to pursue after graduation.  

This ambitious vision is supported by generous donors like Dan Byrne, who believe in the formative power of early career experiences. Philanthropic support expands access to paid opportunities and helps ensure that all students can access dynamic learning experiences while at Tufts. The project will require substantial support to reach its stated goal, and anyone interested in supporting experiential learning in the School of Engineering is encouraged to contribute.

Kelly St. Fort, a second year engineering student, is just one of many whose internship experiences have guided her career path. “I've dabbled in a bunch of smaller type internships where we've done more clinical stuff and I just don't really see myself doing cells and tissues, but more so medical devices,” she said. Based on her experiences, she changed her major from biomedical engineering to mechanical engineering, with a second major in biomedical engineering, and will continue her studies with a clearer vision of what she’d like to do in the future.

This summer, she expanded her horizons with an internship through Tufts’ Center for Engineering Education and Outreach. Alongside CEEO Director Merredith Portsmore, St. Fort is helping to design an enrichment program for middle school students in Everett, MA, where she grew up. Funded by alumnus George Wilding, A74, E74, (who also grew up in Everett), St. Fort’s internship is one example of the kinds of opportunities that Engineering Blueprint plans to foster.

Support for Engineering Blueprint will help shape the next generation of Tufts leaders and innovators to pursue their futures with confidence.

“The Blueprint represents an investment in the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers. I hope others will join me in supporting this effort to help ensure that future Tufts students are empowered to realize their full potential. Together, we can create a lasting legacy that extends far beyond campus and into the communities and industries these students will one day lead,” said Byrne. 

For more information on ways to support the SOE Blueprint, please contact Senior Director of Development Leila Rice at leila.rice@tufts.edu.