Unconventional Journeys: Shaping the Materials World from a Small Town to Oak Ridge National Laboratory

In the diverse and evolving field of materials science, every professional journey contributes uniquely to our collective understanding and technological advancement. My path into this dynamic realm began in an unassuming small town in West Tennessee, not a place typically associated with advancements in engineering and materials science. From my undergraduate engineering education to a specialized focus in materials science was neither straightforward nor predetermined. It was during an internship opportunity at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) that my career trajectory transformed. This experience not only expanded my technical ability but also ingrained a profound appreciation for the multifaceted impact of materials science on technology, society, and the environment. This relationship I owe to mentors along the way, from undergraduate professionals to ORNL mentorships these ongoing relationships have been instrumental in shaping my professional identity, offering a platform for continuous learning, innovation, and contribution to the field. This talk will explore how my personal journey and academic pursuit in engineering, nurtured in an environment of simplicity and community, laid the foundational stones for a career in materials science.