Rhett Dobbs

Rhett Dobbs is a fourth-generation Auburn Engineering student from Oneonta, Alabama. A junior in civil and environmental engineering, he has taken advantage of campus opportunities by becoming the team captain of Auburn’s Sustainable Solutions team and the first recipient of the Wayne and Yvette Phillips Hard Work Annual Scholarship.

Why Auburn

“I’m a fourth-generation Auburn student, so I grew up as an Auburn fan and spent a lot of time around the university. I knew that I wanted to study engineering, and because Auburn is one of the best engineering schools in the country, it was the only place I applied. Auburn also makes it easy for students to apply for scholarships. I applied through the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager, and I was surprised and very grateful to receive several scholarships.”

Why engineering

“Growing up, I always loved LEGO sets and trains, but before I came to Auburn, I wasn’t sure what kind of engineering I wanted to pursue. At first, I applied to aerospace engineering because I was interested in rockets, but I switched to civil engineering because my real interest is transportation. I’m passionate about high-speed rail, and I’d love to see it built in America one day.”

Involvement in engineering

“I’ve completed two rotations of a co-op with Foresite Group’s Moore’s Mill office in Auburn, and I’ll continue with a third rotation in the spring. It’s taught me a lot about the site design process. I’m also doing a study abroad in Tokyo this spring, where I’ll study sustainability in city planning and visit the Mitsubishi Electric plant. I’ve also been involved with Auburn’s Sustainable Solutions team since my freshman year, and this year, I’m the team captain. We’ve competed in the American Society of Civil Engineers Gulf Coast Student Symposium at Mississippi State University, which has been a great experience for our team. As team captain this year, I’m taking on more responsibility because I get to see how the different aspects of our projects come together.”

Advice for future engineering students

“My advice for any students coming to Auburn is not to be afraid to get involved with on-campus groups, especially within engineering. If something interests you, go to at least one meeting. I was nervous about trying something new at first, but I went to the first meeting, got to know the people around me, and I’ve kept coming back ever since.”

To learn more about Dobbs, check out his interview with the award-winning #GINNing Podcast.