January 5, 2025 • 38 mins
Hello Again. This is the Owner of the Straight Cheese, No Lettuce Show, Alpha Insanity, and welcome back. On this Episode, We have two very special guests visiting today. Two Chemical Engineers graduates who are not only cousins, but a Mentor and her Mentee. In this Interview, We discuss their interest in the field, the importance of a support system, and talk about the misconceptions about Engineering as a whole. This episode is going to be a good one. Let's get cheesy.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hello, hello, hello.
(00:29):
Welcome to the Straight Cheese No Letters podcast show.
I am your host, slash owner of the restaurant, Mr. Matthew Newton.
And today we have two special guests that are really close to me.
First, she is my sister, Ms. Adrienne Newton.
And the second person is my cousin, Dr. Kevin Nixon.
Welcome to the show.
(00:50):
Thank you.
Thank you.
So just to keep everybody on the playing field,
please say your educational credentials, ladies first.
All right.
So I'm Adrienne Newton, his sister, as he mentioned.
So I have an undergraduate degree, bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
from Howard University.
(01:11):
I also have my MBA from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
And I also have my professional engineering license.
Dr. Nixon.
So, hi again.
My name is Dr. Kevin Nixon, Matthew's cousin.
So I have my bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University
and then went on to obtain my PhD in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University.
(01:36):
Okay.
So let's get chemical, I guess you can say.
If that's a joke, I don't know.
I'm just trying to break the ice.
But let's go, let's start at the beginning.
When y'all was in high school, what was the deciding factor to make you say,
I want to do chemical engineering as a major, was it a teacher, a class,
just an inkling for science?
(01:58):
Like what was it, ladies first?
So for me, I really liked science and math.
I really like chemistry.
So I really was kind of focused on majoring in chemistry.
And I had a calculus teacher who actually introduced me to engineering
and very strongly encouraged me to look beyond just chemistry and do engineering.
Actually joined an engineering group that I can't remember the name.
(02:23):
It was Jets.
I can't remember what it stood for.
But we did engineering type tournaments, kind of like math team, but for engineering.
And then also one career day, we had a chemical engineer actually come to class
and talk about what they do.
And at that moment, I used to be really into like fingernail polish
and even lip gloss and they talked about chemical engineers and process
(02:49):
and making that kind of stuff.
And so that's what led me to major in chemical engineering.
Okay, Dr. Nixon?
Yeah, so I'd say my journey to chemical engineering started a bit early.
I can remember as young as five years old actually proclaiming that I wanted to be a chemical engineer
and it was probably about 100% motivated by Miss Adrienne Newton here.
(03:13):
So I definitely looked up to her a lot when I was little.
So I definitely from back then was claiming I wanted to be a chemical engineer
without really knowing exactly what it was.
But then similar with Adrienne said that going through school, middle school, high school
found that I had an affinity for math and science courses.
So I really liked chemistry as well as my math courses.
(03:34):
And then when I took physics, enjoyed that.
And even at one point wanted to not major in chemical engineering
but was actually thinking of majoring in chemistry.
And after some discussions with my cousin here as well as had an opportunity to actually talk to a chemist
who has a PhD as well was encouraged to think more about chemical engineering.
(03:56):
So I ended up switching to chemical engineering as my major and stuck with that.
Okay. As you said in the beginning when y'all mentioned your college
Adrienne went to a HBCU and Kevin went to a PWI.
What was the decision making for that?
The program, you had scholarships or just like any mini-mini-mote.
(04:21):
What was your decision in picking your college of choice?
So for me initially I was looking in state
and so I initially was kind of focused on the University of Alabama Huntsville.
I didn't want to go to Auburn or Alabama because I felt like that's where all my high school went.
And then when I decided that I wanted to go to a HBCU, I looked at Alabama A&M
(04:48):
and they didn't have a chemical engineering program.
I applied for Tuskegee but at that time I was really looking to go out of state.
And so I looked at North Carolina A&T and Howard were my two HBCUs that I was looking at out of state.
And Howard gave me a full ride versus North Carolina A&T there out of state fees.
(05:10):
Didn't cover all the costs.
So they gave me a scholarship but it didn't cover all the costs.
And so Howard did and so I ended up going to Howard which worked out
because I actually have a family that lives in the area.
So like our uncle lives up there and cousins live up there in Maryland.
So that's how I ended up at Howard.
Dr. Nixon?
(05:31):
Yeah, for me, I think for me my number one priority was staying in state
after taking some of the standardized testing like ACT.
Seeing what that would get me in terms of scholarships for some of the out of state schools.
It just didn't really add up for me.
And I didn't want to be, if I was going out of state I didn't want to go nearly as far as Adrian did.
(05:54):
Going to Howard, maybe I was a bit like having memories as a kid not seeing her as much coming home.
So I didn't want to be that far away.
And so I decided that I wanted to stay in state in terms of HBCU versus PWI.
Adrian already brought it up but in the state of Alabama there's only one chemical engineering program
and that HBCU and that's Tuskegee.
(06:17):
And that is a private institution so two issues.
A bit expensive.
And so from there I was like okay, well I think I want to go to a public institution.
And then at that point I was just looking at the strongest chemical engineering program
mixed with what initiatives or programs they had for either student success
or more specifically student success of students from predominantly underrepresented populations.
(06:43):
And so the best combination at least at the time that I could find was Auburn University.
And I guess to be the opposite of Adrian on this I actually chose Auburn a little bit more
because about a third of my graduating class was going to Auburn.
So I knew I wouldn't feel alone my freshman year.
That was a little bit of a scary piece of the transition to college for me.
(07:04):
I was a bit worried about not making friends or connections just because of my introverted nature.
And so that actually kind of eased my, I guess my anxiety a bit with transitioning to college.
Okay.
So when you were in college was there a particular class or moment that said
(07:28):
oh I need to change out my whole study habits, my whole game plan, going to college.
This ain't high school anymore.
What was, do you have any classes that remind you like chemistry 101 maybe?
I would say when I first got to college because in high school they had already said
oh college is not like high school.
(07:50):
So I already went in with that mindset.
So I knew I had to study.
I had to focus in like every class.
So I would say that first year wasn't as big of a transition only because I already was like expecting it to be
more accountability on myself and like the teacher's not looking out for you
or wish they do look out for you in college.
(08:11):
But like I went into it thinking that they didn't just because of what people told me.
But really I would say it was probably my junior year, well sophomore years when I started taking
chemistry classes where it was like, and I had a professor, Dr. Cannon, who, he was just very,
just a very cool professor, black guy, just one of the best professors that we had.
(08:34):
And like he was really when I started to be like, oh yeah, I want to be a chemie, chemical engineer like him
and learn in the course.
So it was probably that intro to chemical engineering class.
I think it was, I think it was mass.
I can't remember the name of it, but I remember the red book.
Then we took two semesters, but that was kind of like the true introduction into chemie classes that was like,
(08:58):
okay, yep, I'm on the right path.
That's the next one.
I'd say the same for me.
The freshman year courses, you know, more the general ed.
So you're taking your chemistry, your calculus one, maybe physics one and things like that wasn't really too difficult
in terms of like material, as Adrian alluded to a little bit more just learning how to manage things was different.
(09:25):
You know, like your teacher or your professors aren't necessarily going to be on you for every assignment.
You have a syllabus and things are listed out when they're due and you're expected to do that.
So that was an adjustment, but really, I think for me the first course I was like, okay, this is different is,
was for me the first chemical engineering course.
At Auburn it was called principles of chemical engineering and it was basically where you learn how to do things,
(09:50):
energy, material and mass balance, which is like pivotal for chemical engineers.
And what really made it difficult, it wasn't, you know, necessarily the content.
It was the way you had to think about problems.
So you had to approach problems from an engineering mindset.
And at least for me, I think I can speak for others that were at least in the course with me was a bit of a difficult transition.
(10:15):
It's a pretty steep learning curve.
And so that's why I really, you know, found out that like, okay, I'm going to have to buckle down.
Like I was a student student in high school and most students that go into chemical engineering usually are pretty studious in high school.
But that's where you really start to feel the heat a bit.
So as you both alluded to, you went to vastly different colleges, vastly different experiences.
(10:42):
So when you was around the core of your peers, around core of your, like other chemical engineers or just engineers in general,
how was the atmosphere around that?
Like, were they all like, I'm like, I don't want to be disrespectful to anybody,
but what were they like all talk and no grades or what?
(11:08):
I would say for me, so like you alluded to, I went to a historically black college university at Howard University.
So you already had top students that were there and then engineering.
And I think it's across the board, you really do have like the cream of the crop that are there and they're studying and that wants to do that major.
(11:31):
I mean, of course we had people who started in engineering and changed.
And I think that's just people don't know exactly what it is or you think you want to do this.
And then you're like, oh, no, I don't want to do this.
So you switch your major, which that's very common just across the board for I would think any degree people can get into something and realize,
(11:52):
oh, that's not what I want to do.
But the atmosphere because Howard, we had smaller class sizes.
So like, I know, like, I knew everybody that I had was in my graduating class.
And so we had study groups together.
Like, we were all helping each other along the way.
I knew the upperclassmen, even to this day, my best friend, she was in civil engineering, but like, we're still friends to this day.
(12:18):
So it was a, I would say just in itself engineering building community just because it's a, it is a smaller school.
So you and everybody, it's just a more community.
They are already established.
Okay.
Dr. Nixon.
Yeah.
So you'll having gone to a slightly larger BWI, which is predominantly white institutions.
(12:40):
Arm University was a little bit different with there just being more students.
You probably just won't have a chance to know everyone that can be a bit difficult.
So my graduating class in chemical engineering was 90 students and I knew most of them, but not everyone.
And then of course, going to a PWA, the majority of the classes didn't look like me.
(13:03):
So out of my graduating class of 95 of us were black in chemical engineering.
And so in terms of finding the community of people that look like you, it has to be sometimes in organizations outside of your classes.
So one of them was the National Society of Black Engineers.
(13:24):
So Nesb for short, that was really helpful in terms of finding, you know, a ton of engineers that looked like me.
And it was, it was a family.
And then at Auburn, we also had this minority engineering program at the time was known as the academic excellence program.
But now is known as the Center for Inspiring Engineering Excellence.
So it was similar to Nesb had a goal of improving the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students and engineering.
(13:50):
So while you may sometimes, you know, being from the underrepresented community, I felt that sometimes in my engineering class is feeling sometimes a bit isolated.
Or just it was very clear that I was one of few having those organizations outside of class, you know, kind of helped fill in that gap.
And I'll also add just because I this particular discussion or debate happened quite often during my time at Auburn of like HBCU versus PWI.
(14:21):
I can't speak for other majors, but at least in engineering, it doesn't matter.
I mean, these are accredited programs and there's a national accreditation board that looks at that goes to these separate colleges and certifies that like this engineering degree is, you know, meets some satisfactory bar.
After that, it's up to you what you make with that degree internships, co-ops, connections.
(14:44):
So it doesn't to me, it doesn't really matter.
So go somewhere where you feel like you fit there.
Don't I would encourage those who may be pursuing it don't think like, oh, is my, you know, engineering degree from an HBCU going to be less than because it's not a PWI.
I don't know if you've experienced that, Adrian, but I heard that discussion quite a lot while I was at Auburn.
(15:06):
It kind of comes up sometimes, especially when like in the higher process, I don't know about you too.
But like when they see an HBCU, they kind of like grade you on a curve sometimes.
Yeah, a bit of familiarity like with the school sometimes if depending on what that like, you know, hiring, they may not be familiar with the school, but you could also say that for some of the smaller liberal arts colleges that are PWI's that I had never even heard of.
(15:32):
Like I'm still hearing about some some colleges and they've been around since like the 1850s or something.
So it's not even sometimes it's it's recognition of the school, but in terms of some people are worried about whether or not the strength of their degree is the same.
And I think it is.
Yeah, I would say it is. It's that unconscious bias.
(15:54):
Like you if you went to Alabama Auburn and you grew up with that your biases towards Alabama Auburn.
But it's clear, even like where I work, we actually have a organization geared towards uniting HBCU graduates and alarms and like bringing in like new graduates from HBCUs and showing that it's a lot of people that are in higher up positions that are senior VPs that graduated from Tuskegee University.
(16:22):
You know, directors my first boss.
When I moved back to Alabama she was a graduate of Tuskegee University. It's other Howard grads is more house grads, filming grads.
I mean, so it really is dependent on you and incumbent on you on what you do with your degree, whether you went to Alabama, whether you went to Howard, whether you went to Tuskegee, whether you went to Vanderbilt is is on pun you on what you make of it because Kevin alluded to like those programs are accredited.
(16:54):
And so you have to work in all of those programs that you are in, especially for engineering.
Now I'm going to ask you this question and it's kind of like a personal question of mine.
But when I got my degree in criminal justice, the one thing that always pet peeze me is when I used to watch TV shows and they would do something like that's not how the law works and it pet and it irks me as Kimble engineers when you see people use science, whether in TV shows or movies,
(17:23):
do you get it like a, I hate to use these terms, but do you kind of like Winston like that's not how those chemicals work together? That's not how they work.
I know it's probably, I know it's a thing of mine, but for y'all, like when y'all watching movies, you like.
Yeah, so I'll say on one end, I don't think chemical engineers are represented in TV very often, which is, I think, to backtrack why, you know, when Adrian brought up, some people don't know what they do.
(17:51):
I think that's part of it. Like, you know, when it comes to the law or medicine, there are just a ton of shows that represent that.
And then I think when people hear like a chemist or a physicist, there are some things out there and it's kind of, you can kind of see it from the name.
But I feel like when people hear engineers, at least on TV, we think of like mechanical electrical.
(18:12):
So like Iron Man or, you know, building bridges or railroad tracks.
In terms of chemical engineering, we're not, I don't think that field is necessarily represented all that much in TV.
But I mean, there are times when I see things on TV. I mean, it's not that often where I'm like, oh, that might not be scientifically accurate.
(18:33):
But for the most part, no, because they're just art as many of those are usually it's the most of the time when I'm seeing like science or technology and TV, they're usually doing something that's way more advanced than we necessarily have the capability.
To do right now. So I don't really have the expertise to say whether or not it's doable.
Like I can't look at Iron Man and be like, oh, that's never possible. I don't know. I don't really know, you know, discovering a new element that might, I don't know the way he did it in the show might not be as accurate.
(19:01):
But I don't know. I'm not an experimental physicist. So I can't really comment.
I have to agree with Kevin.
I think the closest would probably be breaking bad might be the closest. But that's a he is a chemist. He was a chemistry teacher.
Most of that stuff I did watch is pretty accurate, though. Like most of it, I wouldn't repeat that stuff because that's a lot. That's illegal. But it's pretty accurate.
(19:30):
So I know fun fact, they actually got real drug makers to teach about a make it. So you're right. It's illegal.
The shows are starting to hire scientists like the Big Bang Theory, the show. A lot of that is so accurate because they actually have hired like actual scientists to vet the things that they're talking about.
(19:51):
And one of the actresses actually has a PhD.
Yeah.
That helps too. I still don't like the show.
Oh boy. Well, this question, I think you're already answering this question, but I'm going to ask anyway. What's the biggest misconception when it comes to engineers?
Like, y'all can do anything possible. Just need the right materials or?
(20:15):
I think it's a misconception about what an engineer is. I think usually people think, you know, you think of like Kevin said, building bridges or trains.
Like, that's what an engineer is. Well, really, an engineer is a problem solver to be if I boil it down. An engineer is a problem solver.
So like I participate in a lot of organizations where we go out and focus on introducing young girls to engineering because a lot of times they don't know what engineers are.
(20:47):
They think they are like they work on trains. They build bridges and they're just white old men. Like that's really what they think of when they think of engineers versus to see that is more broader than that.
So as young people in engineering, as people that look like them is, you know, is a lot of females in engineering. I mean, not as many as me and is getting better, but like just to introduce them to see that it is bigger than just that, you know, train engineer.
(21:16):
Like really what is engineering and that is a lot of different facets to engineering is not just that one mechanical or just civil or environmental or you have chemical, you have environmental, you have aerospace.
I mean, there's a lot of different avenues that you can go with in engineering. So I think that that's probably to me the biggest misconception is just not really understanding the scope and the breadth of what engineering covers.
(21:45):
And I'll piggyback to add on to that, not just how broad engineering is, but that what doors engineering can open because there's so many engineers that are trained engineers that don't actually do engineering.
Like you should Google how many CEOs are just engineers, you know, so it's like Adrian said, you're a problem solver. It doesn't have to be science and math. It's any problem, right?
(22:11):
Like if the engineering mindset can be applied to many different fields, there are engineers that go into law, there are engineers that go into medicine, there are engineers that go into business, there are engineers on Wall Street, right?
So like the degree itself can be used for other things. So you don't have to be the quote unquote prototypical engineer, which I don't really know what that is.
But like, you know, this introvert that's in a cubicle crunching numbers, you don't have to do that. Are there jobs like that? Definitely.
(22:37):
But you don't have to do that and it can allow you to venture out into other things afterwards if you would like to pursue.
Okay.
As we say way in the beginning of this episode, Miss Newton, you got an MBA and doggenix, you have a doctor.
And so the question is, it's going to be the same question, but it's going to split because for y'all.
(23:01):
So Miss Newton, what made you go the route you took to get MBA? Why not get your master's? Why not get your doctor's hand?
For doggenixing, I'm going to say this, what made you keep going, get your master's doctor? What made you go that path, Miss Newton?
So for me, after I finished getting my undergraduate degree, I was ready to get a job.
(23:23):
Then we came to work. And my first job was actually in Kimmy doing true, which you would consider quote unquote true.
Kimmy worked. I worked in a chemical manufacturing plant and I was like, oh, I don't want to do true Kimmy work.
And so just from that already, and I was already just tired of school.
(23:45):
I mean, like I had been in school, you know, through high school, then through college, I was ready to be done with school.
So I wasn't even looking at getting like a master's or a PhD in chemical engineering.
And then once I had my first job in true chemical engineering, I was like, well, no, that's not really what I want to keep doing.
And so the reason I ended up getting my MBA is where I currently work.
(24:13):
So I work in the energy field. So when I would look at jobs posted, it would always have like MBA as you know, preferred that you would have it or you know, not necessarily required,
but like a lot of the different opportunities I was looking at, they were always this MBA.
And I didn't want that to be the thing that cut me out of being able to apply for a job.
(24:36):
So I would have my engineering degree. And so then I went ahead and got my MBA as well.
So now that couldn't cut me out of being able to apply for different jobs that came up, which has helped me be able to move and navigate in the company that I'm in.
But that's why for me is because it really and I didn't get my MBA till later in life.
(24:57):
And it was really because I was at that company and I could see the beneficial, the benefit of having that degree.
Okay. Dr. Nixon. Yeah. So for me, going through undergrad in the beginning, I actually had no desire to get a graduate degree.
The goal was to get the bachelor's degree and then get a job also in the energy industry.
(25:23):
But I had an opportunity to co-op, which was is basically like a year long internship with the Department of Environmental Management,
working as an environmental engineer. And it was a great experience.
But from that found that I wasn't really having the best time.
And so going back to Auburn had a discussion with one of my mentors through, as I talked about before, the Academic Excellence Program.
(25:54):
And she suggested that I try research.
And so I applied for what's called a research experience for undergraduates or R.E.U. through the National Science Foundation and had one for opportunity to work as an undergraduate researcher at Kansas State University for one summer.
Where I worked on a mathematical and kind of like a computer aided type engineering research project.
(26:20):
And while I found out that I didn't necessarily like the computer aided piece, I did really enjoy just the practice of conducting research.
And so from there, decided that I did want to pursue graduate school and liked some of the career opportunities that would open up from there.
And so at that point it was then deciding between masters or PhD and just looking at the return on investment and things like that.
(26:50):
And like I said, the career opportunities I was looking at, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go into academia and be a professor or if I did want to stay more of the industrial route and go more research and development or maybe even a national lab as a scientific researcher.
The PhD would give me the most options in between those or amongst those three different routes.
(27:12):
So that's what ultimately guided me to go towards the PhD and I decided to stick with it throughout the PhD.
See, I'm glad I had both y'all on the show at the exact same time because you are literally carbon copies of another.
My sister would do it and then somehow my cousin will follow suit not intentionally but will do so.
(27:38):
And in the beginning he said, and this is to you Mrs. Noon, when he said the one thing I can quote him saying that you was his inspiration.
So when you hear someone, whether it's our cousin or just someone's like you inspire me to become a computer, does that, how you feel about that?
(27:59):
I would say that I feel honored that obviously he listened to me and he respected my opinion enough to want to pursue it.
Obviously I wouldn't have suggested something that I didn't think that he could be successful at or that I didn't think he'd like to do.
(28:20):
And so it's inspiring for me to see all that he's done and where he's going and continue to do and pursue.
And even for you it inspires me to see you in this podcast and what you're doing and how you, because I've watched both of y'all grow up.
I feel very old but I've watched both of y'all grow up so it inspires me to see that y'all both are what y'all are doing and the successful ventures that both of y'all have taken and passed.
(28:49):
So I'm just a very proud sister cousin family member.
So Dr. Nixon, what does it feel having a, well you call it inspiration but she almost feels like also like a mentor.
How does it feel having your own cousin be your mentor sometimes? Like the first person like I need someone to like who understands what I'm going through from a, not only from just from family's perspective from a Kim Cleggenarian program.
(29:23):
What do you feel about that?
Yeah, so I'll say first just blessed because it just is not typical especially you know we're blacks over a part of an underrepresented community we make up less than 10% of STEM degrees.
(29:44):
So to even have the option of having someone in your family that has a degree in STEM was you know really crucial like I said being exposed early to STEM and specifically chemical engineering.
It was a pivotal piece in kind of having me go down that path.
But as you alluded to having you know a family member be a mentor that's just a call away was great. As Adrian knows I am definitely an introvert so definitely as an undergrad not really knowing exactly how to set myself up for success.
(30:23):
You know there's little things that people may not tell you in terms of oh you should start looking into co-op or hey you should start looking into internships as a freshman you're just there trying to get used to this new atmosphere, new courses, living on your own and things like that.
But having Adrian there to kind of offer suggestions not in a pushy way at all but she just you know threw out these little tidbits of hey you should look into this look into that was super helpful or just being able to vent to her about like yeah I don't like thermodynamics and Adrian be like yeah but you can take it anyway.
(30:59):
So you know just having someone I guess a sounding board to just vent to was very helpful. That's honestly a big piece I think for engineering is for students it's not easy and I don't want it to seem like that but you can make it.
It's not difficult and just having some support system there whether you go into college with a support system like I had not everyone is as fortunate or you find one there but it's super helpful to have like I said a support system and thankfully I had Adrian going into college.
(31:35):
You mentioned a lot of different programs STEM, NISB. I've noticed the fact that a lot of people don't want YouTube to talk about the fact that y'all are ready to be a chemical engineer back in high school but most of the time people don't know like I don't know what I need to do in high school to prepare to be chemical engineers or just engineers in general.
(31:58):
Not like not a hypothetical like if you was in front of a school like what need to be done to get people to prepare for being in chemical engineers or engineers in general do they need to focus more math.
At least have understanding of it more in science or like like what kind of tips could you give students now if you could.
(32:19):
I would say you definitely need to focus on your math and science classes those are important but also participate in extracurricular activities.
I feel like people lose that when they think of engineering and think that oh you only got to focus on your math and your grades but you also have to focus in being a well rounded person.
(32:43):
So being involved in extracurricular activities because you still got to interact with people even in engineering so like having being more well rounded is I think a necessity.
And one of the things I tell when I go speak to groups about engineering you know explaining to them about what they need to be successful.
(33:04):
It is you know again it is the grades is you know it's a high concentration in math and science but also even in high school I would say joint organizations where you get exposure to engineering and other STEM subjects to kind of know more about that degree
(33:25):
and kind of have even a more well informed going into college so like NSBE has what they call NSBE junior chapters or maybe it's called PCI pre-college initiative chapters which I've participated in the past where that's a way for students to learn more about the different engineering disciplines.
You have organizations like Girl Inc. you have a lot of non-profit groups also out there where you can even as in high school to start to learn about engineering and get that exposure because that will help you knowing what you really want to focus on.
(34:05):
Another one is ICANN which is one of the company sponsor organizations that I'm a part of where we go into high school go into middle schools actually we target seven to eight grade girls to get them exposed to engineering so that again they learn what it is before they get to high school
and they've already made up their mind because they haven't been exposed to say the engineering discipline so it gives them a chance to learn about it and also be exposed to people that look like them that's in their field.
(34:36):
Anything to say Dr. Holt?
I have nothing to add.
This has been fun but we're nearing the end and the check is almost here. I hope you all enjoyed your food here but we're going to have some fun. We're going to have our just desserts so what I'm going to do I got a list here I got five questions caught like this or that and I got five that are like first thing first with the pop in your head.
(35:00):
So we're going to do this and that first and then the first ones that come from the pop in your head so it's real quick. They might be about chemistry and they could be about college but it's pretty kid friendly.
Okay let's go.
Favorite season? Summer or spring?
Summer.
(35:21):
Okay which sport you would like to watch on TV if you had to? Basketball or football?
Football.
Basketball.
Okay. Favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry or chocolate?
Strawberry. Chocolate.
Yeah I was so divided.
Last one this one.
(35:43):
I didn't know I wrote this one but I guess I already know the answer to it. I won't say anyway.
College you would go to on a full ride? Alabama or Auburn?
Auburn.
I...
People in the restaurant I forgot I wrote that question and I got who I was talking to but we're going to put this part in.
(36:05):
Okay now switching over to the other desserts.
Thing of the first thing that comes to mind when you hear something like this.
8am classes.
No.
Oh god they're back in sync folks.
They're back in sync.
(36:29):
Study groups?
Yes.
Okay.
Science projects?
Volcano.
Paper circuits.
Okay that's the last one.
Favorite summer activity?
(36:52):
Sleeping.
Oh that's a good one.
Oh okay.
Yeah I'm going to go with sleeping.
And last one I wrote this down because I just happened to look at classes for chemical damage.
Intro to thermodynamics is...
(37:15):
Tough.
You heard it here folks and that's the end of the game. I told you it's just a quick game.
And that's the end of the show.
I usually say my usual thing but I'm going to switch it up here.
Stay safe out there.
Hug your family.
(37:37):
Tell someone that you love them.
Just pick up a book and read.
Knowledge is power.
So until then stay cheesy folks.
(38:15):
Thanks for watching.
Hello, hello, hello.
(00:29):
Welcome to the Straight Cheese No Letters podcast show.
I am your host, slash owner of the restaurant, Mr. Matthew Newton.
And today we have two special guests that are really close to me.
First, she is my sister, Ms. Adrienne Newton.
And the second person is my cousin, Dr. Kevin Nixon.
Welcome to the show.
(00:50):
Thank you.
Thank you.
So just to keep everybody on the playing field,
please say your educational credentials, ladies first.
All right.
So I'm Adrienne Newton, his sister, as he mentioned.
So I have an undergraduate degree, bachelor's degree in chemical engineering
from Howard University.
(01:11):
I also have my MBA from the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
And I also have my professional engineering license.
Dr. Nixon.
So, hi again.
My name is Dr. Kevin Nixon, Matthew's cousin.
So I have my bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University
and then went on to obtain my PhD in chemical engineering from Texas A&M University.
(01:36):
Okay.
So let's get chemical, I guess you can say.
If that's a joke, I don't know.
I'm just trying to break the ice.
But let's go, let's start at the beginning.
When y'all was in high school, what was the deciding factor to make you say,
I want to do chemical engineering as a major, was it a teacher, a class,
just an inkling for science?
(01:58):
Like what was it, ladies first?
So for me, I really liked science and math.
I really like chemistry.
So I really was kind of focused on majoring in chemistry.
And I had a calculus teacher who actually introduced me to engineering
and very strongly encouraged me to look beyond just chemistry and do engineering.
Actually joined an engineering group that I can't remember the name.
(02:23):
It was Jets.
I can't remember what it stood for.
But we did engineering type tournaments, kind of like math team, but for engineering.
And then also one career day, we had a chemical engineer actually come to class
and talk about what they do.
And at that moment, I used to be really into like fingernail polish
and even lip gloss and they talked about chemical engineers and process
(02:49):
and making that kind of stuff.
And so that's what led me to major in chemical engineering.
Okay, Dr. Nixon?
Yeah, so I'd say my journey to chemical engineering started a bit early.
I can remember as young as five years old actually proclaiming that I wanted to be a chemical engineer
and it was probably about 100% motivated by Miss Adrienne Newton here.
(03:13):
So I definitely looked up to her a lot when I was little.
So I definitely from back then was claiming I wanted to be a chemical engineer
without really knowing exactly what it was.
But then similar with Adrienne said that going through school, middle school, high school
found that I had an affinity for math and science courses.
So I really liked chemistry as well as my math courses.
(03:34):
And then when I took physics, enjoyed that.
And even at one point wanted to not major in chemical engineering
but was actually thinking of majoring in chemistry.
And after some discussions with my cousin here as well as had an opportunity to actually talk to a chemist
who has a PhD as well was encouraged to think more about chemical engineering.
(03:56):
So I ended up switching to chemical engineering as my major and stuck with that.
Okay. As you said in the beginning when y'all mentioned your college
Adrienne went to a HBCU and Kevin went to a PWI.
What was the decision making for that?
The program, you had scholarships or just like any mini-mini-mote.
(04:21):
What was your decision in picking your college of choice?
So for me initially I was looking in state
and so I initially was kind of focused on the University of Alabama Huntsville.
I didn't want to go to Auburn or Alabama because I felt like that's where all my high school went.
And then when I decided that I wanted to go to a HBCU, I looked at Alabama A&M
(04:48):
and they didn't have a chemical engineering program.
I applied for Tuskegee but at that time I was really looking to go out of state.
And so I looked at North Carolina A&T and Howard were my two HBCUs that I was looking at out of state.
And Howard gave me a full ride versus North Carolina A&T there out of state fees.
(05:10):
Didn't cover all the costs.
So they gave me a scholarship but it didn't cover all the costs.
And so Howard did and so I ended up going to Howard which worked out
because I actually have a family that lives in the area.
So like our uncle lives up there and cousins live up there in Maryland.
So that's how I ended up at Howard.
Dr. Nixon?
(05:31):
Yeah, for me, I think for me my number one priority was staying in state
after taking some of the standardized testing like ACT.
Seeing what that would get me in terms of scholarships for some of the out of state schools.
It just didn't really add up for me.
And I didn't want to be, if I was going out of state I didn't want to go nearly as far as Adrian did.
(05:54):
Going to Howard, maybe I was a bit like having memories as a kid not seeing her as much coming home.
So I didn't want to be that far away.
And so I decided that I wanted to stay in state in terms of HBCU versus PWI.
Adrian already brought it up but in the state of Alabama there's only one chemical engineering program
and that HBCU and that's Tuskegee.
(06:17):
And that is a private institution so two issues.
A bit expensive.
And so from there I was like okay, well I think I want to go to a public institution.
And then at that point I was just looking at the strongest chemical engineering program
mixed with what initiatives or programs they had for either student success
or more specifically student success of students from predominantly underrepresented populations.
(06:43):
And so the best combination at least at the time that I could find was Auburn University.
And I guess to be the opposite of Adrian on this I actually chose Auburn a little bit more
because about a third of my graduating class was going to Auburn.
So I knew I wouldn't feel alone my freshman year.
That was a little bit of a scary piece of the transition to college for me.
(07:04):
I was a bit worried about not making friends or connections just because of my introverted nature.
And so that actually kind of eased my, I guess my anxiety a bit with transitioning to college.
Okay.
So when you were in college was there a particular class or moment that said
(07:28):
oh I need to change out my whole study habits, my whole game plan, going to college.
This ain't high school anymore.
What was, do you have any classes that remind you like chemistry 101 maybe?
I would say when I first got to college because in high school they had already said
oh college is not like high school.
(07:50):
So I already went in with that mindset.
So I knew I had to study.
I had to focus in like every class.
So I would say that first year wasn't as big of a transition only because I already was like expecting it to be
more accountability on myself and like the teacher's not looking out for you
or wish they do look out for you in college.
(08:11):
But like I went into it thinking that they didn't just because of what people told me.
But really I would say it was probably my junior year, well sophomore years when I started taking
chemistry classes where it was like, and I had a professor, Dr. Cannon, who, he was just very,
just a very cool professor, black guy, just one of the best professors that we had.
(08:34):
And like he was really when I started to be like, oh yeah, I want to be a chemie, chemical engineer like him
and learn in the course.
So it was probably that intro to chemical engineering class.
I think it was, I think it was mass.
I can't remember the name of it, but I remember the red book.
Then we took two semesters, but that was kind of like the true introduction into chemie classes that was like,
(08:58):
okay, yep, I'm on the right path.
That's the next one.
I'd say the same for me.
The freshman year courses, you know, more the general ed.
So you're taking your chemistry, your calculus one, maybe physics one and things like that wasn't really too difficult
in terms of like material, as Adrian alluded to a little bit more just learning how to manage things was different.
(09:25):
You know, like your teacher or your professors aren't necessarily going to be on you for every assignment.
You have a syllabus and things are listed out when they're due and you're expected to do that.
So that was an adjustment, but really, I think for me the first course I was like, okay, this is different is,
was for me the first chemical engineering course.
At Auburn it was called principles of chemical engineering and it was basically where you learn how to do things,
(09:50):
energy, material and mass balance, which is like pivotal for chemical engineers.
And what really made it difficult, it wasn't, you know, necessarily the content.
It was the way you had to think about problems.
So you had to approach problems from an engineering mindset.
And at least for me, I think I can speak for others that were at least in the course with me was a bit of a difficult transition.
(10:15):
It's a pretty steep learning curve.
And so that's why I really, you know, found out that like, okay, I'm going to have to buckle down.
Like I was a student student in high school and most students that go into chemical engineering usually are pretty studious in high school.
But that's where you really start to feel the heat a bit.
So as you both alluded to, you went to vastly different colleges, vastly different experiences.
(10:42):
So when you was around the core of your peers, around core of your, like other chemical engineers or just engineers in general,
how was the atmosphere around that?
Like, were they all like, I'm like, I don't want to be disrespectful to anybody,
but what were they like all talk and no grades or what?
(11:08):
I would say for me, so like you alluded to, I went to a historically black college university at Howard University.
So you already had top students that were there and then engineering.
And I think it's across the board, you really do have like the cream of the crop that are there and they're studying and that wants to do that major.
(11:31):
I mean, of course we had people who started in engineering and changed.
And I think that's just people don't know exactly what it is or you think you want to do this.
And then you're like, oh, no, I don't want to do this.
So you switch your major, which that's very common just across the board for I would think any degree people can get into something and realize,
(11:52):
oh, that's not what I want to do.
But the atmosphere because Howard, we had smaller class sizes.
So like, I know, like, I knew everybody that I had was in my graduating class.
And so we had study groups together.
Like, we were all helping each other along the way.
I knew the upperclassmen, even to this day, my best friend, she was in civil engineering, but like, we're still friends to this day.
(12:18):
So it was a, I would say just in itself engineering building community just because it's a, it is a smaller school.
So you and everybody, it's just a more community.
They are already established.
Okay.
Dr. Nixon.
Yeah.
So you'll having gone to a slightly larger BWI, which is predominantly white institutions.
(12:40):
Arm University was a little bit different with there just being more students.
You probably just won't have a chance to know everyone that can be a bit difficult.
So my graduating class in chemical engineering was 90 students and I knew most of them, but not everyone.
And then of course, going to a PWA, the majority of the classes didn't look like me.
(13:03):
So out of my graduating class of 95 of us were black in chemical engineering.
And so in terms of finding the community of people that look like you, it has to be sometimes in organizations outside of your classes.
So one of them was the National Society of Black Engineers.
(13:24):
So Nesb for short, that was really helpful in terms of finding, you know, a ton of engineers that looked like me.
And it was, it was a family.
And then at Auburn, we also had this minority engineering program at the time was known as the academic excellence program.
But now is known as the Center for Inspiring Engineering Excellence.
So it was similar to Nesb had a goal of improving the recruitment and retention of underrepresented students and engineering.
(13:50):
So while you may sometimes, you know, being from the underrepresented community, I felt that sometimes in my engineering class is feeling sometimes a bit isolated.
Or just it was very clear that I was one of few having those organizations outside of class, you know, kind of helped fill in that gap.
And I'll also add just because I this particular discussion or debate happened quite often during my time at Auburn of like HBCU versus PWI.
(14:21):
I can't speak for other majors, but at least in engineering, it doesn't matter.
I mean, these are accredited programs and there's a national accreditation board that looks at that goes to these separate colleges and certifies that like this engineering degree is, you know, meets some satisfactory bar.
After that, it's up to you what you make with that degree internships, co-ops, connections.
(14:44):
So it doesn't to me, it doesn't really matter.
So go somewhere where you feel like you fit there.
Don't I would encourage those who may be pursuing it don't think like, oh, is my, you know, engineering degree from an HBCU going to be less than because it's not a PWI.
I don't know if you've experienced that, Adrian, but I heard that discussion quite a lot while I was at Auburn.
(15:06):
It kind of comes up sometimes, especially when like in the higher process, I don't know about you too.
But like when they see an HBCU, they kind of like grade you on a curve sometimes.
Yeah, a bit of familiarity like with the school sometimes if depending on what that like, you know, hiring, they may not be familiar with the school, but you could also say that for some of the smaller liberal arts colleges that are PWI's that I had never even heard of.
(15:32):
Like I'm still hearing about some some colleges and they've been around since like the 1850s or something.
So it's not even sometimes it's it's recognition of the school, but in terms of some people are worried about whether or not the strength of their degree is the same.
And I think it is.
Yeah, I would say it is. It's that unconscious bias.
(15:54):
Like you if you went to Alabama Auburn and you grew up with that your biases towards Alabama Auburn.
But it's clear, even like where I work, we actually have a organization geared towards uniting HBCU graduates and alarms and like bringing in like new graduates from HBCUs and showing that it's a lot of people that are in higher up positions that are senior VPs that graduated from Tuskegee University.
(16:22):
You know, directors my first boss.
When I moved back to Alabama she was a graduate of Tuskegee University. It's other Howard grads is more house grads, filming grads.
I mean, so it really is dependent on you and incumbent on you on what you do with your degree, whether you went to Alabama, whether you went to Howard, whether you went to Tuskegee, whether you went to Vanderbilt is is on pun you on what you make of it because Kevin alluded to like those programs are accredited.
(16:54):
And so you have to work in all of those programs that you are in, especially for engineering.
Now I'm going to ask you this question and it's kind of like a personal question of mine.
But when I got my degree in criminal justice, the one thing that always pet peeze me is when I used to watch TV shows and they would do something like that's not how the law works and it pet and it irks me as Kimble engineers when you see people use science, whether in TV shows or movies,
(17:23):
do you get it like a, I hate to use these terms, but do you kind of like Winston like that's not how those chemicals work together? That's not how they work.
I know it's probably, I know it's a thing of mine, but for y'all, like when y'all watching movies, you like.
Yeah, so I'll say on one end, I don't think chemical engineers are represented in TV very often, which is, I think, to backtrack why, you know, when Adrian brought up, some people don't know what they do.
(17:51):
I think that's part of it. Like, you know, when it comes to the law or medicine, there are just a ton of shows that represent that.
And then I think when people hear like a chemist or a physicist, there are some things out there and it's kind of, you can kind of see it from the name.
But I feel like when people hear engineers, at least on TV, we think of like mechanical electrical.
(18:12):
So like Iron Man or, you know, building bridges or railroad tracks.
In terms of chemical engineering, we're not, I don't think that field is necessarily represented all that much in TV.
But I mean, there are times when I see things on TV. I mean, it's not that often where I'm like, oh, that might not be scientifically accurate.
(18:33):
But for the most part, no, because they're just art as many of those are usually it's the most of the time when I'm seeing like science or technology and TV, they're usually doing something that's way more advanced than we necessarily have the capability.
To do right now. So I don't really have the expertise to say whether or not it's doable.
Like I can't look at Iron Man and be like, oh, that's never possible. I don't know. I don't really know, you know, discovering a new element that might, I don't know the way he did it in the show might not be as accurate.
(19:01):
But I don't know. I'm not an experimental physicist. So I can't really comment.
I have to agree with Kevin.
I think the closest would probably be breaking bad might be the closest. But that's a he is a chemist. He was a chemistry teacher.
Most of that stuff I did watch is pretty accurate, though. Like most of it, I wouldn't repeat that stuff because that's a lot. That's illegal. But it's pretty accurate.
(19:30):
So I know fun fact, they actually got real drug makers to teach about a make it. So you're right. It's illegal.
The shows are starting to hire scientists like the Big Bang Theory, the show. A lot of that is so accurate because they actually have hired like actual scientists to vet the things that they're talking about.
(19:51):
And one of the actresses actually has a PhD.
Yeah.
That helps too. I still don't like the show.
Oh boy. Well, this question, I think you're already answering this question, but I'm going to ask anyway. What's the biggest misconception when it comes to engineers?
Like, y'all can do anything possible. Just need the right materials or?
(20:15):
I think it's a misconception about what an engineer is. I think usually people think, you know, you think of like Kevin said, building bridges or trains.
Like, that's what an engineer is. Well, really, an engineer is a problem solver to be if I boil it down. An engineer is a problem solver.
So like I participate in a lot of organizations where we go out and focus on introducing young girls to engineering because a lot of times they don't know what engineers are.
(20:47):
They think they are like they work on trains. They build bridges and they're just white old men. Like that's really what they think of when they think of engineers versus to see that is more broader than that.
So as young people in engineering, as people that look like them is, you know, is a lot of females in engineering. I mean, not as many as me and is getting better, but like just to introduce them to see that it is bigger than just that, you know, train engineer.
(21:16):
Like really what is engineering and that is a lot of different facets to engineering is not just that one mechanical or just civil or environmental or you have chemical, you have environmental, you have aerospace.
I mean, there's a lot of different avenues that you can go with in engineering. So I think that that's probably to me the biggest misconception is just not really understanding the scope and the breadth of what engineering covers.
(21:45):
And I'll piggyback to add on to that, not just how broad engineering is, but that what doors engineering can open because there's so many engineers that are trained engineers that don't actually do engineering.
Like you should Google how many CEOs are just engineers, you know, so it's like Adrian said, you're a problem solver. It doesn't have to be science and math. It's any problem, right?
(22:11):
Like if the engineering mindset can be applied to many different fields, there are engineers that go into law, there are engineers that go into medicine, there are engineers that go into business, there are engineers on Wall Street, right?
So like the degree itself can be used for other things. So you don't have to be the quote unquote prototypical engineer, which I don't really know what that is.
But like, you know, this introvert that's in a cubicle crunching numbers, you don't have to do that. Are there jobs like that? Definitely.
(22:37):
But you don't have to do that and it can allow you to venture out into other things afterwards if you would like to pursue.
Okay.
As we say way in the beginning of this episode, Miss Newton, you got an MBA and doggenix, you have a doctor.
And so the question is, it's going to be the same question, but it's going to split because for y'all.
(23:01):
So Miss Newton, what made you go the route you took to get MBA? Why not get your master's? Why not get your doctor's hand?
For doggenixing, I'm going to say this, what made you keep going, get your master's doctor? What made you go that path, Miss Newton?
So for me, after I finished getting my undergraduate degree, I was ready to get a job.
(23:23):
Then we came to work. And my first job was actually in Kimmy doing true, which you would consider quote unquote true.
Kimmy worked. I worked in a chemical manufacturing plant and I was like, oh, I don't want to do true Kimmy work.
And so just from that already, and I was already just tired of school.
(23:45):
I mean, like I had been in school, you know, through high school, then through college, I was ready to be done with school.
So I wasn't even looking at getting like a master's or a PhD in chemical engineering.
And then once I had my first job in true chemical engineering, I was like, well, no, that's not really what I want to keep doing.
And so the reason I ended up getting my MBA is where I currently work.
(24:13):
So I work in the energy field. So when I would look at jobs posted, it would always have like MBA as you know, preferred that you would have it or you know, not necessarily required,
but like a lot of the different opportunities I was looking at, they were always this MBA.
And I didn't want that to be the thing that cut me out of being able to apply for a job.
(24:36):
So I would have my engineering degree. And so then I went ahead and got my MBA as well.
So now that couldn't cut me out of being able to apply for different jobs that came up, which has helped me be able to move and navigate in the company that I'm in.
But that's why for me is because it really and I didn't get my MBA till later in life.
(24:57):
And it was really because I was at that company and I could see the beneficial, the benefit of having that degree.
Okay. Dr. Nixon. Yeah. So for me, going through undergrad in the beginning, I actually had no desire to get a graduate degree.
The goal was to get the bachelor's degree and then get a job also in the energy industry.
(25:23):
But I had an opportunity to co-op, which was is basically like a year long internship with the Department of Environmental Management,
working as an environmental engineer. And it was a great experience.
But from that found that I wasn't really having the best time.
And so going back to Auburn had a discussion with one of my mentors through, as I talked about before, the Academic Excellence Program.
(25:54):
And she suggested that I try research.
And so I applied for what's called a research experience for undergraduates or R.E.U. through the National Science Foundation and had one for opportunity to work as an undergraduate researcher at Kansas State University for one summer.
Where I worked on a mathematical and kind of like a computer aided type engineering research project.
(26:20):
And while I found out that I didn't necessarily like the computer aided piece, I did really enjoy just the practice of conducting research.
And so from there, decided that I did want to pursue graduate school and liked some of the career opportunities that would open up from there.
And so at that point it was then deciding between masters or PhD and just looking at the return on investment and things like that.
(26:50):
And like I said, the career opportunities I was looking at, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go into academia and be a professor or if I did want to stay more of the industrial route and go more research and development or maybe even a national lab as a scientific researcher.
The PhD would give me the most options in between those or amongst those three different routes.
(27:12):
So that's what ultimately guided me to go towards the PhD and I decided to stick with it throughout the PhD.
See, I'm glad I had both y'all on the show at the exact same time because you are literally carbon copies of another.
My sister would do it and then somehow my cousin will follow suit not intentionally but will do so.
(27:38):
And in the beginning he said, and this is to you Mrs. Noon, when he said the one thing I can quote him saying that you was his inspiration.
So when you hear someone, whether it's our cousin or just someone's like you inspire me to become a computer, does that, how you feel about that?
(27:59):
I would say that I feel honored that obviously he listened to me and he respected my opinion enough to want to pursue it.
Obviously I wouldn't have suggested something that I didn't think that he could be successful at or that I didn't think he'd like to do.
(28:20):
And so it's inspiring for me to see all that he's done and where he's going and continue to do and pursue.
And even for you it inspires me to see you in this podcast and what you're doing and how you, because I've watched both of y'all grow up.
I feel very old but I've watched both of y'all grow up so it inspires me to see that y'all both are what y'all are doing and the successful ventures that both of y'all have taken and passed.
(28:49):
So I'm just a very proud sister cousin family member.
So Dr. Nixon, what does it feel having a, well you call it inspiration but she almost feels like also like a mentor.
How does it feel having your own cousin be your mentor sometimes? Like the first person like I need someone to like who understands what I'm going through from a, not only from just from family's perspective from a Kim Cleggenarian program.
(29:23):
What do you feel about that?
Yeah, so I'll say first just blessed because it just is not typical especially you know we're blacks over a part of an underrepresented community we make up less than 10% of STEM degrees.
(29:44):
So to even have the option of having someone in your family that has a degree in STEM was you know really crucial like I said being exposed early to STEM and specifically chemical engineering.
It was a pivotal piece in kind of having me go down that path.
But as you alluded to having you know a family member be a mentor that's just a call away was great. As Adrian knows I am definitely an introvert so definitely as an undergrad not really knowing exactly how to set myself up for success.
(30:23):
You know there's little things that people may not tell you in terms of oh you should start looking into co-op or hey you should start looking into internships as a freshman you're just there trying to get used to this new atmosphere, new courses, living on your own and things like that.
But having Adrian there to kind of offer suggestions not in a pushy way at all but she just you know threw out these little tidbits of hey you should look into this look into that was super helpful or just being able to vent to her about like yeah I don't like thermodynamics and Adrian be like yeah but you can take it anyway.
(30:59):
So you know just having someone I guess a sounding board to just vent to was very helpful. That's honestly a big piece I think for engineering is for students it's not easy and I don't want it to seem like that but you can make it.
It's not difficult and just having some support system there whether you go into college with a support system like I had not everyone is as fortunate or you find one there but it's super helpful to have like I said a support system and thankfully I had Adrian going into college.
(31:35):
You mentioned a lot of different programs STEM, NISB. I've noticed the fact that a lot of people don't want YouTube to talk about the fact that y'all are ready to be a chemical engineer back in high school but most of the time people don't know like I don't know what I need to do in high school to prepare to be chemical engineers or just engineers in general.
(31:58):
Not like not a hypothetical like if you was in front of a school like what need to be done to get people to prepare for being in chemical engineers or engineers in general do they need to focus more math.
At least have understanding of it more in science or like like what kind of tips could you give students now if you could.
(32:19):
I would say you definitely need to focus on your math and science classes those are important but also participate in extracurricular activities.
I feel like people lose that when they think of engineering and think that oh you only got to focus on your math and your grades but you also have to focus in being a well rounded person.
(32:43):
So being involved in extracurricular activities because you still got to interact with people even in engineering so like having being more well rounded is I think a necessity.
And one of the things I tell when I go speak to groups about engineering you know explaining to them about what they need to be successful.
(33:04):
It is you know again it is the grades is you know it's a high concentration in math and science but also even in high school I would say joint organizations where you get exposure to engineering and other STEM subjects to kind of know more about that degree
(33:25):
and kind of have even a more well informed going into college so like NSBE has what they call NSBE junior chapters or maybe it's called PCI pre-college initiative chapters which I've participated in the past where that's a way for students to learn more about the different engineering disciplines.
You have organizations like Girl Inc. you have a lot of non-profit groups also out there where you can even as in high school to start to learn about engineering and get that exposure because that will help you knowing what you really want to focus on.
(34:05):
Another one is ICANN which is one of the company sponsor organizations that I'm a part of where we go into high school go into middle schools actually we target seven to eight grade girls to get them exposed to engineering so that again they learn what it is before they get to high school
and they've already made up their mind because they haven't been exposed to say the engineering discipline so it gives them a chance to learn about it and also be exposed to people that look like them that's in their field.
(34:36):
Anything to say Dr. Holt?
I have nothing to add.
This has been fun but we're nearing the end and the check is almost here. I hope you all enjoyed your food here but we're going to have some fun. We're going to have our just desserts so what I'm going to do I got a list here I got five questions caught like this or that and I got five that are like first thing first with the pop in your head.
(35:00):
So we're going to do this and that first and then the first ones that come from the pop in your head so it's real quick. They might be about chemistry and they could be about college but it's pretty kid friendly.
Okay let's go.
Favorite season? Summer or spring?
Summer.
(35:21):
Okay which sport you would like to watch on TV if you had to? Basketball or football?
Football.
Basketball.
Okay. Favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry or chocolate?
Strawberry. Chocolate.
Yeah I was so divided.
Last one this one.
(35:43):
I didn't know I wrote this one but I guess I already know the answer to it. I won't say anyway.
College you would go to on a full ride? Alabama or Auburn?
Auburn.
I...
People in the restaurant I forgot I wrote that question and I got who I was talking to but we're going to put this part in.
(36:05):
Okay now switching over to the other desserts.
Thing of the first thing that comes to mind when you hear something like this.
8am classes.
No.
Oh god they're back in sync folks.
They're back in sync.
(36:29):
Study groups?
Yes.
Okay.
Science projects?
Volcano.
Paper circuits.
Okay that's the last one.
Favorite summer activity?
(36:52):
Sleeping.
Oh that's a good one.
Oh okay.
Yeah I'm going to go with sleeping.
And last one I wrote this down because I just happened to look at classes for chemical damage.
Intro to thermodynamics is...
(37:15):
Tough.
You heard it here folks and that's the end of the game. I told you it's just a quick game.
And that's the end of the show.
I usually say my usual thing but I'm going to switch it up here.
Stay safe out there.
Hug your family.
(37:37):
Tell someone that you love them.
Just pick up a book and read.
Knowledge is power.
So until then stay cheesy folks.
(38:15):
Thanks for watching.
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