Julia Strecker, Biomedical Engineering Alum

Degree(s) 

BS (2022) and MS (2023) in Biomedical Engineering 

Current Residence 

Memphis, TN 

Current Employer 

Smith and Nephew 

What influenced your decision to attend Herff College of Engineering? 
I was an out of state student from St. Louis, MO. I didn't have many in-state school options that offered Biomedical Engineering as a major and the ones that did were not offering a lot of student aid. I expanded my search to out-of-state schools with BME programs that would offer me student aid. Memphis was the first of several schools that I toured. After my very first visit with Herff, I was impressed by the BME program, the Engineering Living Learning Community (ELLC), and the Accelerated Bachelors to Masters (ABM) program. When I toured other schools after that, I kept finding myself comparing them to the University of Memphis and their engineering schools to Herff. When I received my acceptance, I was offered significant scholarship money from both the university and Herff and that sealed the deal. 

How did Herff prepare you for your career? 
Herff did an excellent job helping me prepare for my career. Looking back, the senior design class very closely resembles the work I do in my job just in a more condensed time period. The group work and problem-solving process mirrors a lot of similar activities needed as a Research and Development Engineer. It definitely set me up with a lot of skills needed that I would have otherwise learned on the job. 

What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most helpful in your career? 
Aside from the core classes that helped give me general knowledge needed in industry, the senior design class helped me to learn the product development process from beginning to end. I learned how to do CAD modeling with NX, learned how to 3D print, how to follow the prototyping process, and more. My time in a research lab helped me learn to problem solve independently and how to come up with solutions to problems that don't have a clear answer. In addition, the Herff Career Fair allowed me to network and work on my elevator pitch with local companies involved in the medical device industry and land interviews with several of those companies. 

Who was your most impactful professor? Why? 
My most impactful professor was Dr. Joel D Bumgardner. He welcomed me into his research lab as a Junior and supported my curiosity for research as an undergraduate student and kept me in the lab through my graduate year to complete my master's project. He is an incredibly supportive person who will also push you to do your best while still encouraging you to get out of your comfort zone. Dr. Bumgardner helped me become both a better student and better researcher. We frequently talked about my career goals for after graduation and discussed classes and opportunities to help me prepare to reach those goals. I am extremely appreciative of the time I had in his lab. 

Were you involved in student groups? If so, which one(s)? 
Yes, I was extremely involved throughout my time at Herff. Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), Biomedical Engineering Honors Society- Alpha Eta Mu Beta (AEMB) as Treasurer my Junior year and President my Senior year, and the Engineering Honors Society- Tau Beta Pi as Vice President my Senior year. 

What support(s) did you have during your time as a college student? How did you keep focused on the goal? 
I had an abundance of support during my time with Herff. My two greatest supporters were Isaiah Surbrook, who cares more deeply about student success than anyone I have ever met, and Dr. Joel D Bumgardner, who wanted nothing more than to see me grow as an individual and have a successful career. I always had very clear goals of coming out with my master's and acquiring my dream job in industry. When you have so many individuals supporting you, rooting for you, and helping you on your way, it helps you stay focused on the goals you've set for yourself. 

What was your greatest memory from your time at Herff? 
Being part of the Engineering Living Learning Community (ELLC) during my freshman and sophomore years. The community that Isaiah Surbrook has built over the last decade is the best place an incoming freshman in engineering could be. There are too many memories to name from my time in it. From industry tours and a trip to Huntsville, AL to meeting some of my closest friends and now fiancé, I couldn't imagine where I'd be without starting my journey there. 

What advice would you give those considering enrolling in Herff College of Engineering? 
Do it. You will never regret investing your time and money in a place that cares so deeply for the education and success of its students. Always remember that, with anything, you get out of it what you put into it. Don't be afraid to fully commit to yourself and your goals. 

What do you know now that you wish you had known during your time at Herff? 
Not to associate as much of my value as I did to my grades and GPA. While it is important to work hard in your classes, your worth as a student, person, and future employee does not lie between the difference of an A and a B in a class. 

Was your Herff experience worth the price? If you could do it over again, what would you do differently? 
My Herff experience was absolutely worth the time and money. There is not a single thing I would change if I were to go back and do it all over again.