I chose Penn State Harrisburg because it was close to my home. I started my path to my degree at Penn State York as a 27-year-old, married student. After completing my associate's degree at Penn State York, transferring to Penn State Harrisburg allowed me to continue to live at home, as paying room and board on top of a mortgage was not an option for me.
My education at Penn State Harrisburg gave me a well-rounded set of skills to be successful in my career. With the availability of a full university education close to home, I gained not only technical engineering knowledge, but also gained the skills to think critically to solve problems, understand world events better, and communicate both in writing and through public speaking.
Penn State Harrisburg is unique in that you can receive the education of a world-class university while receiving one-on-one attention from the professors. Even twenty years after my graduation, I am still in contact with one of many professors that taught me in the program.
Brian Linton '01,Product Engineer,Phoenix Contact
I chose Penn State Harrisburg for my degree in electrical engineering because students are treated as an individual, not a number. Professors know students by name and are invested in their personal academic success. The education focuses more on the real-world applications of the fundamentals of electrical engineering and engages students to apply them on a daily basis. Because of this choice in higher education, I feel ahead of the curve with regard to my technical experience and know-how. Penn State Harrisburg's program has taught me to take risks, become a leader, and strive to engineer to the best of my abilities.
Nathan M Holland '21,Electrical Engineer,Naura Akrion
I was a non traditional student. I entered Penn State Harrisburg as a recently separated veteran that was looking for a good college without the hassle of large classes and a large campus. I was working, had an apartment and was already in the “real world” so I needed something that fit me. Penn State Harrisburg had a great program and a reasonable price within commuting distance from home and work. The staff respected the fact that I was in a different situation than traditional students and worked with me and my schedule. Although I am not currently working as an electrical engineer, the engineering experience was key to the job I currently have.
Jason Dorwart '07,Mechanical Engineer,Department of Defense
The electrical engineering program at Penn State Harrisburg provided a unique opportunity in its signal integrity lab that allowed me to set myself apart from my peers and gain skills that directly related to the functions of a signal integrity engineer. The lab's capabilities are on par with many of the leading edge labs in the industry, and they provide a strong advantage for students looking to go into high speed design.
Juan Martinez '16,Analog Design Engineer - Signal Integrity,AMD
I've always had an interest in electronics and knew from a young age that I wanted to be involved in engineering. I knew Penn State was the place for me based on the number of engineers the university places in the various work forces across the globe. I preferred the smaller class atmosphere of Penn State Harrisburg in lieu of the larger classes at University Park. Although my degree is in electrical engineering, I actually work among all mechanical engineers in my department. At first, I struggled to grasp all the knowledge and skills needed for my profession, but once I was able to understand the mechanical side, I actually excelled past the other mechanical engineers because I understood the electrical side of our business as well. This is an area typically handled by another department within our company. Once I was able to understand both aspects, I was able to grow within the company to my current position. Penn State Harrisburg taught me engineering fundamentals and problem solving and allowed me to grasp both aspects more easily than if I hadn't been exposed to this in college.
Michael P Campbell '06,Mechanical Systems Engineer,Knorr Brake Company, LLC
