UM geological engineering student TyAnna Cox shadows UM geological engineering alumnus Stephen Karpenko during one of her visits to Stantec in Nashville, Tennessee. Submitted photo
Before TyAnna Cox entered the University of Mississippi as a freshman two years ago, she already had connected with alumnus Stephen Karpenko (GE 15).
“My high school required all seniors to shadow someone in their prospective field and write a paper on it,” said Cox, a junior geological engineering major from Brentwood, Tennessee.
“I spoke to Mrs. (Marni) Kendricks (assistant dean for undergraduate academics in the School of Engineering) on the phone and asked if she knew any alum from the geological engineering program that happened to be working in the Nashville area. She got me in touch with Mr. Karpenko in order to fulfill that requirement.”
Cox met Karpenko in April 2017 for the shadow day. Afterward, he invited her back to the office to meet other engineers when she was home between semesters.
Karpenko works as a geotechnical engineer in training at Stantec. The company provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects.
A geotechnical engineer in training supports the execution of various civil engineering projects, including private development, roadways, utilities and dam safety evaluations.
“My responsibilities include developing scopes to address technical issues, oversight for various geotechnical explorations, and performing engineering analyses to address problems with slope stability, seepage, seismic and settlement,” Karpenko said.
Cox most recently visited Karpenko at Stantec this past May while she was at home for a few days.
“Visiting the Stantec office allows me to take the concepts I learn in class and understand how they are applied in the real world,” Cox said. “I have also seen techniques/tools that Stantec uses in the field, then learned more about them in classes.
“That is really cool, to know what I am learning has real/practical uses and that I am not just learning things I won’t use in the future.”
Karpenko said Cox is a model student, and he has been providing a behind-the-scenes look at what a career in geological engineering looks like.
“It has been a great experience being able to give back and help guide TyAnna similar to the way people helped me while I was at Ole Miss,” Karpenko said. “TyAnna is really involved in school and takes her future serious. When she comes in the office, she is always polite, she ask questions, and she listens well.”
Karpenko said he believes Cox’s shadowing him and his fellow colleagues, and learning about what they do every day will help her decide on a path after graduation.
“I encourage other students to reach out to professors and Ole Miss alumni, and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” he said. “I would also like to encourage Ole Miss alumni to reach out and donate a fraction of their time to helping a student find their niche in the engineering world.”
Following graduation, Cox said she plans to join the Peace Corps, serve for two years and then return to college to pursue a master’s degree in geophysics. Her career goal is to become an engineer for the United Nations.
“Stephen has shown me how having a geological engineering degree, I can do a multitude of things,” Cox said. “Going into the real world and seeing what your opportunities will be helped me truly realize what I want to do. Shadowing Stephen has been important by allowing me to understand that I am where I need to be, pursuing a degree in a field that I love.”
Kendricks said she is glad Cox’s introduction to Karpenko solidified her interest in geological engineering.
“Professional alumni who generously give of their time and experience like Stephen are truly friends of Ole Miss Engineering,” Kendricks said.