Testimonial: NASA engineer says Auburn Engineering master's 'sets one apart' from competition

Leonardo Barreda, or Leo, earned his master's in mechanical engineering fully online from Auburn, beginning in 2010 and graduating in 2015. 

Q: Where do you currently work, and what is your job title?
A: NASA; I’m the space vehicle systems manager, a project office within the Human Landing Systems Program.

Q: Where did you earn your bachelor’s degree and what is area of study?
A: University of Texas at El Paso, mechanical engineering.

Q: What made you decide to pursue this graduate online program?
A: My work really required a higher level of technical knowledge that only a master's could fulfill.

Q: What was your personal experience with the 100 percent online format?
A: Outstanding; having the ability to tune in to the lectures at my own time was critical in enabling my success in juggling personal, work, and academic responsibilities. I only do wish there was some connection with local students; in engineering we work problems in teams, and at the time when I completed my master's, I really did not have any contact with other students and had to work out problems without a group effort or hearing different perspectives to approaching solutions.

Q: Would you have been able to pursue your master’s if not for the fully online format?
A: Given how close I am to Auburn, I probably could have done some in person work if necessary, but it would have been limited. The 100 percent remote option is a game changer and was one of the selling factors when I chose Auburn.

Q: How has this graduate degree enhanced your professional life, or how do you expect it will in future? 
A: I strongly believe that my master’s degree from Auburn helped me receive many different professional opportunities, and it continues to positively impact my work, as I’m still in a technical project management area. It sets one apart in a list of candidates when applying for promotions or new jobs.

Q: What would you tell someone who was thinking about applying for an Auburn Engineering Online graduate program?
A: Go for it --- the faculty is excellent, the class work options are outstanding, the flexibility it allows in terms of scheduling is key, and above all, it will bring about not only a deeper technical knowledge but also many new professional growth opportunities.