Why Auburn: Andrew Dillard

From Huntsville, Andrew Dillard, junior in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, sees Auburn as more than a college — it’s a chance to share his story and help others make their own.

Why Auburn

“My parents met at Auburn, and I grew up an Auburn fan, so it was always on my radar. When it came time to choose a school, Auburn was the one that said, “we believe in you” — through friends, mentors and scholarships. As a prospective student, it meant a lot to be seen not as a project, but as a story. That encouragement has been the biggest blessing over the past three years.”

Cupola

“When someone steps on campus, they might notice a beautiful campus or see Auburn’s history, but what stays with them is the role Auburn can play in their story. You can be any kind of student, from any background, with any interest, and still find a home here. Auburn reaches its hand out to kids and says here’s an opportunity — take it.”

Undergraduate research

“I got connected with Edward Huang, a professor of industrial and systems engineering, at the beginning of my sophomore year, and he convinced me to switch from aerospace engineering to industrial and systems engineering. He offered me a research spot working with model-based systems engineering (MBSE). It stood out because I got to work in Model-Based Systems Engineering, a field that I was extremely interested in, and one where I wanted to gain experience.”

Internships

“I reached out to Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation to sit down and talk with the deputy division manager of their MBSE team to gain a practical understanding of what this field of work looks like outside of academia. I was encouraged and inspired and decided to apply for an internship as a model-based systems engineer student hire. After being offered a position, I had the opportunity to do technical work on a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Now, that’s developed into a marketing student hire position with a focus on MBSE, and I am returning this upcoming summer as an MBSE student hire once again.