BRETT PHILLIPPE, B.S.I.E / M.S.I.E., 2019

Associate Logistics Engineer, J.B. Hunt Transport

“I always excelled for my proficiency in math and science

classes while growing up. I also loved the problem solving

aspects of these types of classes, so I felt that some type of

engineering was what I was supposed to do. I took an

Engineering Concepts class my first semester at K-State that

explored all of the engineering disciplines. I honestly didn’t

know what industrial engineering was about until the

department head, Dr. Kramer, came and talked to us about

what industrial engineers do. I was immediately sold. I loved

the problem solving skills that such a degree would bring and

how broadly they could be applied.”

As an IE student, Brett Phillippe was able to participate in industrial engineering organizations

such as IISE and Alpha Pi Mu. It is through this engagement that he had the opportunity to

take on leadership roles and gain valuable professional skills such as initiative and planning.

He credits the IE program for opening doors that led to two internships, first with J.B. Hunt

and then with Spirit AeroSystems. These internships allowed him to experience different IE

roles like working on data-drive projects and manufacturing systems management. He was

able to compare these different roles and decide that accepting a Logistics Engineer position

with J.B. Hunt was the right choice for him.

LILY JOHNSON, B.S.I.E, 2018

Business Analyst, Deloitte Consulting

“K-State engineers are genuinely caring and passionate

people. Almost every student I talked to wanted to make the

world a better place through their discipline. Our faculty

encouraged this mentality and always seemed to broaden our

horizons about ways we could contribute to the world. I once

read that IEs ‘maximize value through balance,’ and this is

what I hope to do for every company I work with and in every

aspect of my life.”

Like many industrial engineers, Lily Johnson was attracted to the

field because of her love of math and her general curiosity about

the way things worked. The “people” side of things is what drew her initially to industrial. She

hit the ground running at K-State, seeing through her first Operations Research class how to

employ math in making better decisions. She added a minor in statistics to improve her

mathematical modeling skills, and became engaged in a number of organizations on campus,

including the Engineering Student Council. While her classes and extracurriculars reinforced

her decision to go IE, she credits her internships as steering her in the direction she really

wanted to take her degree. Interning at Walmart and ExxonMobil helped her appreciate the

numerous ways IE is used in different industries. This ultimately led her to accept a position

with Deloitte Consulting, where she gets to work with a multitude of companies.

SARAH NEWELL, B.S./M.S. 2017

eCommerce Fulfillment Engineering, Walmart

“The endless opportunities to become involved and grow as a

student are the main reasons I had such a positive experience

studying IE at K-State. My advice to anyone unsure of their path

would be to try industrial engineering because it provides a

strong foundation for endless career opportunities. Regardless

of your passion, you will have the tools to help people and

businesses save money, time, prevent injuries, and much

more, setting you up for success and upward movement in

your future career.”

Sarah Newell was already decided on engineering when she first arrived

at K-State, but unsure of which engineering discipline to pursue. IE caught her attention because of

the advanced skillset it provides in solving problems, and the variety of problems it allows you to solve.

Sarah was a go-getting from the start, taking advantage of the IMSE department’s family atmosphere

to get to know upperclassmen and networking with alumni at a resume workshop. These connections

helped her get her first internship at J.B. Hunt, and her second at Walmart, where she accepted a

position after graduation. She designs new systems to fulfill orders and provides data visibility and

tools to warehouse managers that will help them better manage their workload.

FOLLOW US ON

SOCIAL MEDIA

@KSTATE_IMSE

Get more out of your education by taking advantage of our concurrent

BS/MS program which allows high-performing students to earn their

bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the same time!

2061 Rathbone Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506 | (785) 532-5606 | imse@ksu.edu | imse.ksu.edu