Joel Serafin
For more than 40 years, Joel Serafin has enjoyed a fulfilling career with a comfortable standard of living for his family.
“I am very appreciative of Ole Miss for that,” said Serafin, an electrical engineering alumnus. “I want to help maintain the quality of the program in any way I can.”
Serafin gives financial support whenever called upon. He is a consulting engineer at Southern Company Services in Birmingham, Ala., and the company matches Serafin’s contributions.
“I wanted a job where I could apply my electrical engineering knowledge,” Serafin said. “I took a job with Alabama Power Co. It required an EE degree, but it was one in which I never used it.”
Disappointed, Serafin considered either changing jobs or returning to school. Fortunately, he found a job in the same company that was a perfect fit for him.
“Southern Company Services is a subsidiary of Southern Company, as is Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Mississippi Power, Gulf Power and Southern Power,” Serafin said. “I have had a 40-year career in a job where I apply my electrical engineering skills on a daily basis. That was my goal.”
Serafin works with talented engineers with degrees from a variety of universities, and he says his Ole Miss education prepared him well.
“I always liked math and enjoyed figuring out how things worked, so engineering was a good choice for me,” he said. “I actually started out in mechanical engineering. As a sophomore, we were all required to take Electrical Circuits 101. Dr. Wall taught that course, and I really enjoyed it.”
Serafin switched from mechanical to electrical at the end of that semester.
“I remember that as a freshman, I did not have good study habits and was having a bit of a hard time, especially with Statics and Dynamics,” he said. “I joined a study group of other freshmen in that class, and we did a lot of late-night sessions. A lot of those guys were close friends throughout my four years. I really enjoyed my entire time at Ole Miss and I think that I got an excellent education.”
Serafin’s support of the School of Engineering is much appreciated, said Kevin Gardner, the school’s development officer.
“The Serafins’ love for Ole Miss has been witnessed by their consistency in their support to the School of Engineering,” Gardner said. “Joel also shares his time, as he will often stop by our tailgate tent in front of Brevard Hall with Diane and Owen, their grandson.
“We have lots of students that come by the tent where Joel on several occasions has shared his thoughts on green technology and renewable resources.”
Serafin is married to the former Dianne Perkins, whom he married just before starting his junior year.
“She worked for two years at the Ole Miss infirmary,” Serafin said. “We have four daughters: Emily, Pam, Amy and Bethany. All are married with families of their own. We have 11 grandchildren.”
The graduate said he is fortunate to have followed some advice he gave his children.
“I often told my children that you are going to have to get up and go to work every day until you retire,” Serafin said. “You need to find a career you enjoy, or you won’t be happy. I did that.”