Career and Co-op Ambassadors represent the Engineering Career Development Center (ECDC) at functions across UA’s campus and serve as peer advisors for students seeking professional development and experience. Co-op is open to all majors.
The Career and Co-op Ambassador team looks forward to connecting with you in classroom settings and in professional development events throughout the year. Please feel free to reach out to an Ambassador with relevant Co-op or Career questions via email. If you are interested in serving as a future Career and Co-op Ambassador, please reach out to Linley Wallin at lklane@ua.edu.
Abby is a senior chemical engineering student from Murfreesboro, TN. She completed a co-op with GAF at their shingle plant in Tuscaloosa as a project engineering co-op. Throughout her three terms, she focused on a drawing management project while also working on other capital projects concerning safety improvements and machine upgrades. While working, she experienced the real-world applications of what she is learning in her classes and what it is like to work in a plant environment.
Abby is available by email at aehiggins2@ua.edu.
Dawson Sconyers is a Computer Science student at the University of Alabama. He has completed a co-op with Johnson Outdoors’ Humminbird in Eufaula, Alabama where he served in the Test Engineering department. In his role, Dawson was directly involved in the development of systems to test and maintain current and future products. He worked with a dynamic field of coworkers ranging from quality, to manufacturing, to electrical specialists that he had to coordinate in order to complete his tasks. Throughout his co-op, Dawson established and grew his professional skills in project management, software development, project leadership, and business intelligence. This has led him to solidify his love for seeing how operations are run at massive scales and how the trickle-down effects of small changes can lead to big outcomes. He hopes to apply all of his learnings while serving as an ambassador for his community.
Dawson is available by email at dcsconyers@ua.edu.
Emma Allen is a senior chemical engineering student at The University of Alabama who completed three co-op rotations with Daikin America in Decatur, Alabama. As a process engineering co-op, she gained hands-on experience in chemical manufacturing through projects involving process optimization, automation, safety, data analysis, and instrumentation.
Through the Co-op Program, Emma discovered her passion for hands-on process engineering and continuous improvement while strengthening her technical, communication, and problem-solving skills. Her co-op experience also helped prepare her to earn a Process/Metallurgical Engineering internship with Nucor Steel Decatur, where she continued developing her experience in manufacturing. Emma credits the program with shaping her career goals and preparing her for a future in process engineering.
Emma is available by email at ehallen1@ua.edu.
Evan is a senior mechanical engineering major from Woodstock, Georgia. He completed a co-op with Mercedes Benz US, International in Vance, Alabama. In his three terms at MBUSI, he spent two in the Joining body department, focusing on control room optimization and implementing a digital tracking system for TPM. The last term was spent in Body Series Planning, where he worked on managing a group of robots for implementation and disassembled various types of equipment for reuse. These experiences gave him valuable exposure to manufacturing and allowed him to develop skills such as communication and problem solving and learn to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.
Evan is available by email at emfistel@ua.edu.
Hailey is a senior studying chemical engineering and recently completed her co-op with ONEOK in Dallas, Texas. During her first three terms, she worked in engineering roles focused on facilities project management and hydraulic modeling. For her fourth term, she transitioned into commercial development, where she gained experience with financial modeling and the business side of the midstream oil and gas industry. Throughout her co-op, she was able to apply concepts from the classroom to real-world projects while gaining experience across both the engineering and commercial sides of the industry.
Hailey is available by email at hepeitersen@ua.edu.
Kidder Urban is a senior electrical engineering student from Royersford, Pennsylvania. He completed three co-op terms with Adtran in Huntsville, Alabama. Across the three rotations, Kidder worked in software development, technical sales solutions engineering, and hardware design. His projects included enhancing developer tools, performing final verification testing for customer applications, and designing a printed circuit board for a new fiber monitoring product. From these projects, he developed strong technical foundations as well as communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Kidder praises the co-op experience for facilitating his professional and personal growth.
Kidder is available by email at kaurban@ua.edu.
Kylin is a mechanical engineering student who has completed 3 со-op terms with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI). In his 3 terms there, he spent one in Process Engineering, where he was given full responsibility for refining manufacturing processes through monitoring the assembly line, following processes, and adjusting workflows. He spent his other terms in the Quality Audit Process and Emissions/Fleet Management, where he led projects involving data equipment and project management. Kylin believes that his co-op experience provided many opportunities and strengthened his skills in fabrication, equipment maintenance, root cause analysis, hands-on technical work, quality control, and communication.
Kylin is available by email at kjfears@ua.edu.
Lake is a senior studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Alabama. He completed three co-op terms with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions in Birmingham, AL, where he worked on material characterization in extreme environments. The role gave him real ownership early, he was regularly trusted with large, open-ended problems and expected to work through them himself, which shaped how he approaches engineering challenges today. Lake credits the co-op program for putting him in a position to get his dream job, and as a co-op ambassador, he’s glad to help other students see what that path can look like for them.
Lake is available by email at ldlarson@ua.edu.
Liam Brandon is an operations management student at the University of Alabama, hailing from Franklin, TN. He completed a year-long co-op and an additional summer internship with Nissan North America, working at the Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Canton, MS. The role he served in with Nissan was that of an Industrial Engineer, working to optimize process efficiency within the automotive manufacturing space. Some achievements include the development of performance indicator tracking tools and labor efficiency studies that enabled significant and sustainable annual cost savings. Liam’s work allowed him to obtain valuable hands-on experience working in the corporate environment and helped further develop his professional communication and proposal skills.
Liam is available by email at wwbrandon@ua.edu.
Rachel is a senior majoring in civil engineering with a minor in construction engineering. She has completed four co-op rotations with Hoar Construction. Her first rotation was in the office, where she gained exposure to project management, estimating, and coordination. She then completed two field rotations with the company’s healthcare division, working on both a new rehabilitation hospital and an addition to an existing hospital. While in the field, Rachel gained hands-on experience in quality control and assurance, project sequencing, and safety. Her fourth rotation was in project management, where she worked on the construction of a world-class flight school. Through all rotations, she was involved in the early stages of steel erection and concrete pours through final finishes, giving her a comprehensive view of the construction process. She attributes much of her professional growth to her co-op experience, which has deepened her passion for construction management and solidified her career goals after graduation.
Rachel is available by email at rmartelle@ua.edu.
Robbie is an aerospace engineering student who has completed 3 co-op terms with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI). In his 3 terms there, he spent one in Battery Series Planning, focusing on process improvements to increase the safety, quality, and efficiency of the production line. He spent his next two terms in Battery Maintenance Engineering where he led projects to accomplish similar goals, but from an equipment side. He also served on the student co-op board in his second and third term to continuously improve the co-op and intern program at MBUSI. Robbie firmly believes that he would not be where he is today without his co-op experience, as it furthered many skills – independence, initiative, confidence, project management, communication and presentation – just to name a few.
Robbie is available by email at rbenglish@ua.edu.
