Mentor Gives Back

Building Efficiency technology and innovation director Bill McQuade is a mechanical engineer by training. He puts his expertise to good use for his employer as well as for students at his alma mater, Penn State University.

Bill has served on the board of the Penn State Mechanical Engineering Society (PSMES) since its inception and is president-elect for 2013. PSMES provides mentoring to students in the Penn State mechanical engineering program. Students are paired with Penn State alumni who are established in the industry. Mentors give students advice regarding their career paths and help them with key decisions, such as whether to pursue graduate studies or secure a job in their chosen field right away.

This program is the first of its kind in the country for mechanical engineering students. Penn State’s other engineering departments as well as universities such as Ohio State and Purdue have asked the PSMES to help them develop similar programs.