Meet Joseph Reckamp — Featured Student for April

Where are you from?

Batavia, IL

What school do you go to? What year are you?

Villanova University; third-year senior.

Do you hold any positions in your AIChE chapter or with AIChE nationally?

Student Chapter President.

Describe an event in your chapter that you are most proud to have been involved with.

We started a "Recent Graduate Networking Event" this year where we brought back about two dozen Villanova ChE graduates within the past five years to talk about their experiences while at Villanova as well as in industry (or further education).

What are your plans after graduation? In what field are you most interested in having an impact?

I am currently still looking for a job. I would like to be in research and development of some sort of physical product such as consumer, food, or pharmaceutical products. I'm also considering consulting positions.

How do you blow off steam and keep your sanity between classes, homework, and projects?

Attending sporting events like the basketball games are an easy way to forget about all the work piling up - especially when your team is top 10 in the nation!

Which of your undergraduate classes have you most enjoyed?

I think my favorite class thus far was Process Design because it has a different challenge where you are applying principles from all the other classes to test hypotheses while trying to develop the least expensive design. While knowledge of other subjects was necessary, the detailed equations were able to be avoided by using process simulation software, making the class focused on thinking creatively instead of plug-and-chug mathematics.

How did you decide to pursue a degree in ChE? Coming into college trying to graduate in three years, I was forced to select a major immediately. I knew I wanted to be an engineer, but did not know which kind of engineer. So my selection process entailed finding the degree with the broadest application fields to allow for many different possibilities post-graduation.

What is the best kept secret on your campus?

White Hall - it is our chemical engineering building and is perfect for getting things done. In addition to having free printing, touchscreen computers, and study areas, there are always fellow chemical engineers around to be able to help each other with homework, studying, or just keeping each other sane.

What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

No longer having to rely on the dining halls and being able to make the food I want to have instead. While the food at Villanova is good, dining halls can become repetitive in their selections.

What will you be most saddened to leave behind at school when you move on?

Definitely the people. Whether it is the professors, staff, or students, there are truly amazing people on campus that I wish I would have had a chance to meet even more of them. And out of the ones I have met, job locations will likely take people away and make it hard to keep in touch.

Do you have any advice to incoming students and underclassmen ChEs around the world?

While engineering, especially chemical, is a tough field, there are so many other things to do around campus. Don't spend your time and only focus on your work, but find what motivates you in sports, hobbies, or student organizations. It will help your time management, show your passion to employers, and even keep you sane when the classes become more difficult.

How would you like to be involved with AIChE after graduation?

Hopefully continue to attend conferences and get involved with YPC.

Join us in CONGRATULATING Joseph by commenting below!