Nick Skytland ’02 Mechanical Engineering/Mathematics Project Manager, EVA Physiology, Systems, and Performance Project; NASA

DEVELOPING A DISTINCTIVE ENGINEER

When the time came for me to choose a university, I wanted to find a school that had a purpose beyond just teaching basic engineering – a place that was clearly passionate about teaching the next generation of leaders. After my first visit to campus, I knew that Valpo would be the perfect environment for me to grow both personally and professionally.

Valpo shaped a value system and work ethic within me that has since provided me with a very solid foundation to navigate through life’s tough decisions and events. The mechanical engineering curriculum was challenging, but it quickly taught me to appreciate a difficult problem and the reward you get by not taking shortcuts in life.

Today, I am the project manager of the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Physiology, Systems, and Performance (EPSP) Project at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This project is a scientific and research effort that seeks to understand human performance during space walks and also aims to develop safer and more efficient systems for exploration missions and the Constellation Program.

Each day, I am required to “think technically” but “apply globally.” My Valpo education provided me with the skills to do just that.

I graduated with an unparalleled foundation in mechanical engineering, as well as the ability to make good career decisions, think innovatively, and understand what it means to be a leader in my profession and in my world. Valparaiso University is a place that aspires to provide unsurpassed teaching for the betterment of our world. It’s because of this that I am proud to say that I’m a Valpo graduate.