KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Since his very first tour of Western Michigan University, Jacob Roberts knew this was the University for him. During that tour, he recognized WMU’s commitment to diversity and sustainability, and that helped clinch his decision to attend the University.
Now, equipped with a variety of internships, co-curricular activities and leadership roles, the senior aerospace engineering student is excited to continue his involvement on campus while exploring the endless possibilities of a career in aerospace engineering.
“I thought I was just coming here to be a student and to learn in academics, but I unexpectedly learned that coming here was all about personal growth and leadership,” explains Roberts.
One of the organizations Roberts is involved in is the Campus Activities Board (CAB), one the largest student organizations on campus. Soon after becoming a member in 2021, Roberts became the special events coordinator and is now serving as president, where he oversees all events, provides direction to his team, and meets with various staff and faculty to talk about University goals.
“It takes a lot of time, but the friendships and family I have made through it makes it worth it,” says Roberts. “I believe that everyone should be a part of CAB and join our family.”
Because of his role as president for CAB, Roberts is also involved in the Western Student Association (WSA) and serves as a representative on the Student Assessment Fee (SAF) Council. Through both of these organizations, Roberts advocates for University funding accordingly.
“We decide how to best utilize student money received through the SAF and how to best give it back to the students,” explains Roberts. “Through policy change, uplifting student voices, and providing feedback, WSA has accomplished many goals.”
Roberts’ student advocacy doesn’t stop there. He is also in his third year as a Fall Welcome ambassador and completed his first year as ambassador captain, helping new Western students connect with peers, WMU's campus, staff and resources all aimed at helping incoming students achieve success.
“I joined because I wanted to not only learn more about the University coming out of COVID-19 but wanted to meet new people,” says Roberts. “I’ve really enjoyed building those connections, being a mentor and guiding (students) through their University career.”
In addition to the vast opportunities for student involvement on campus, Roberts also appreciates the emphasis WMU puts on diversity and inclusion and sustainability. With a younger brother with Down Syndrome, Roberts advocates for a world where everyone is included through his involvement in programs such as Best Buddies at Western Michigan University and Special Olympics USA. Roberts is also working on pushing a new sustainability initiative titled Sustainable Housing Equipment Shed, hoping to limit waste while providing students with affordable dorm and apartment essentials.
“Through talks with the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Division of Student Affairs, things are looking up for this initiative,” says Roberts. “The goal is to have more funding provided to the Office for Sustainability so that they can fund this initiative and provide leadership through a graduate assistant and add the initiative to the University’s strategic plan.”
Along with his passion for these co-curricular activities, Roberts invests a lot of time and creativity in his studies. One of his favorite memories is from Propulsion I with aerospace and mechanical engineering chair and professor, Dr. William Liou. Roberts and his group members decided to focus their final project on the propulsive force that engineers could put into a wrench to throw it long distances titled “Project Wrench Rage: Propelling Anger into Motion.”
“My group and I decided to take the project in a less conventional way. While most other groups did research-based projects, ours was experimental,” explains Roberts. “We made a lot of mistakes throughout it, but ultimately learned about what all things need to be considered, prepared for, and thought of whenever you run an experiment.
A part of Roberts’ journey in discovering what career to pursue was joining Western Aerospace Launch Initiate (WALI), one of 20 registered student organizations offered at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Roberts joined the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) team within WALI where he learned about the details and challenges behind determining the location and orientation of a satellite. Roberts dedicates his experience in WALI to helping him land his first engineering internship at aerospace company Pratt and Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut.
“I was able to get hands on experience with some of the GNC parts and run a test with the military grade GPS system,” explains Roberts. “My experience and time in WALI really helped me to secure that internship with Pratt and Whitney, as I had hands on experience outside of the classroom.”
At Pratt and Whitney, Roberts was a quality engineering intern where they track and predict non-conformance parts or processes and aim to make the engines safer and more reliable. Roberts was a part of the manufacturing process and explored a different kind of working environment. Through his internship at Pratt and Whitney, Roberts discovered a lot about quality engineering and even more about himself.
“I learned about manufacturing and product quality. I learned about the company as a whole. But most importantly to me, I learned the importance of self-reflection," says Roberts.
Embracing this personal growth, Roberts is excited about the future of aerospace engineering and the opportunities and challenges that come along with it. Specifically, he wants to explore the development of next generation fighter jets and advanced propulsion systems.
“I’m very interested in next generation turbine jet engines, and I look forward to pursuing a career where I can be a part of those programs,” says Roberts. “Each design and program are going to come with its own challenges, and that’s something I want to take on and learn from.”
Learn about developments in Roberts' career by following him on LinkedIn.
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