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Santiago Armas ’23, an Engineering major with an Electrical Specialization and first-generation student, will work as a seapower and electronic systems electrical engineer for Raytheon Missiles & Defense in Portsmouth, R.I.  

Prestigious Research Opportunities: “Last summer I conducted fiber optics research with Professor Ahmet Akosman through a summer research scholarship from the NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium, and I had the chance to present my research at the IEEE MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference last fall. One of the biggest things I learned was creative problem-solving. This project also piqued my interest in research. I might consider attending graduate school and continuing my career as a researcher in the future.”  

Courses Prep Students for Industry Jobs: “When I interviewed for my job, the interviewer talked a lot about what they do at Raytheon, and I understood a lot of it. He was impressed that I knew about K-maps, which I learned how to implement as a junior. That experience made me appreciate the things that I studied at ��ɫ������.”  

Benefits of Interdisciplinary Program: “No matter what your concentration is, you still become a well-rounded individual, which gives you more wiggle room (in your career). Instead of being a one-trick-pony, you’re a jack-of-all-trades. At ��ɫ������, I gravitated toward Electrical, but by taking courses I realized that I was also interested in and really enjoy Mechanical Engineering.”  

Armas, who served as a tour guide and Admissions Ambassador and was secretary for both ��ɫ������’s Engineering Without Borders and IEEE clubs, is from West Warwick, R.I.  

Every spring, as Commencement nears, ��ɫ������ spotlights members of the graduating class. Suggestions are welcome. Email: stories@rwu.edu