Why Auburn: Andrew Dillard

Form Huntsville, Andrew Dillard, junior in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, sees Auburn as more than a college, it’s a chance to share his story and help others make their own.

Why Auburn

“My parents met at Auburn, and I grew up an Auburn fan, so it was always on my radar. When it came time to choose a school, Auburn was the one that said, “we believe in you” — through friends, mentors and scholarships. As a prospective student, it meant a lot to be seen not as a project, but as a story. That encouragement has been the biggest blessing over the past three years.”

Cupola

“When someone steps on campus, they might notice a beautiful campus, or see Auburn’s history, but what stays with him is the role Auburn can play in their story. You can be any kind of student, from any background, with any interest, and still find a home here. Auburn reaches its hand out to kids and says here’s an opportunity — take it.”

Undergraduate research

“I got connected with Edward Huang, the Hal N. and Peggy S. Pennington professor of industrial and systems engineering, at the beginning of my sophomore year and he convinced me to switch from aerospace engineering to industrial and systems engineering. He gave me a research spot working with model-based systems engineering (MBSE). It stood out because I get to work in MBSE, AI and cybersecurity — all growing fields.”

Internships

“I cold-emailed the deputy director of digital engineering at Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation and got an internship as a model-based systems engineer student, working on technical work and an U.S. Navy contract. That’s developed into a marketing student hire position, and I am returning this summer as a MBSE intern.”