Prof. Jon Longtin

Dear students and future colleagues, I wish you the very best as you move on to the next phase of your careers. You graduate amid an extraordinary time in recent history, with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting each of you in a profound and personal way. Some, if not many, of you will have your career paths altered in ways large and small as a result of the pandemic. Use this experience to your advantage to be more resilient, steadfast, and prepared. Here are some parting thoughts that I would like to share with you as you embark on the next phase of your life:

• Practice ‘lean thinking’ that allows you to assess the magnitude of a value, problem or entire operation with as little effort as possible. Learn to differentiate the critical from the details.

• Learn to write, powerfully. Writing skills, especially amongst your generation, are declining. Use this to your advantage! Don’t simply learn to write well---master it! Language then ceases to be a burden and becomes instead your servant: you can wield it with precision to persuade your colleagues and superiors of the strength of your ideas.

• Never, ever stop learning. It keeps you young and vitalized. It doesn’t have to necessarily be in your career area, but you will be surprised how often some obscure bit of knowledge floats up in the most unexpected ways and times.

• Play. A lot. Make it a point to always have a hobby or two going. You will be amazed at what you can learn if you aren’t paying attention. I have a friend who is into all kinds of different hobbies. When asked about his diverse interests, he replied, simply, ‘My hobby is collecting hobbies.’ Do this.

• Remember my lecture on how to retire a millionaire: on the very first day that you start your next job, have them take out as much money from your paycheck as you possibly can. You will never miss it if you never saw it. Do this for 30-35 years, and you will retire a multi-millionaire.

• Be lazy and opportunistic yourselves.

• Finally, be compassionate. It is impossible to live in another person’s shoes, and we often have no concept of the trials and tribulation that others must shoulder. Make it a practice to yield the benefit of the doubt to your fellow men and women.

Go now into the brave new world, fraught with uncertainty, unseen peril and tremendous opportunity. Make all of us who have had the honor and pleasure of educating you proud. Godspeed. 

Rafael Tejada

Spring 2020 Graduates:  Congratulations. Seriously... You've earned it. Getting a Mechanical Engineering degree was already a tremendous effort filled with all of our favorite things: Piles of Math, Tons of Labs, Overly Long Papers, Group Work (Ugh), Tough Exams, and Sleepless Nights. And yet through all of this you've found a way to succeed even when thrust upon you was a bigger challenge: Succeeding regardless of COVID. This is truly an accomplishment that you're unique in overcoming and I commend you for stepping up to the plate. You've shown a strength and resilience that is par excellence. I've had the privilege to get to know you all through various courses (some as early as MEC101!), clubs, and projects. I've gotten to see your continued growth and achievements -- You've impressed me all the way and I can't wait to see the great things you all achieve. Cheers to you 2020 Graduates! Keep in touch... we'll miss you.

Prof. Jay Mendelson

Dear Seniors: This semester has been a difficult one for you, which few expected and no SBU seniors except your class, ever experienced. You persevered and made it to graduation. You deserve accolades and warm congratulations for that. Great job! Enjoy the accomplishment and my best wishes for a success career.

Prof. Anurag Purwar

Dear Prerna: Thank you for doing excellent work with your Master’s thesis with me on MotionGen Pro. Congratulations on graduating with a deep sense of accomplishment.

Dear Shrinath: Congratulations on your PhD. I will miss not being to participate in your PhD hooding ceremony. I was really looking forward to it. You have done a terrific job with your work on Machine Learning in Mechanisms Design and I will cherish my experience working with you.

Dear Shashank: Congratulations on your PhD in advance. I know that you will be graduating in summer, but that does not stop me from letting you know that it has been great working with you as a fantastic PhD student. I have admired your tenacity and hunger to succeed. I know that you will do well in life. Make us all proud.

Dear Deep: Congratulations on your imminent MS thesis defense, which I am certain would be a blast. Looking forward to it.

Dear ME Graduating Class: Many, many congratulations on successfully completing your studies at Stony Brook University. I met most of you for the first time in my MEC101 class and have continued to work with several of you until now. It has been a pleasure to have you in my classes and in my lab. I wish that we could say goodbye to each other one final time before you left campus; however, I am sure that we will find a way to remain in touch. Please send me an email, request on Linkedin and we can be friends for life.

Prof. Thomas Rosati

I used to teach the senior design capstone so I know the level of work and dedication you have needed to reach this point. Especially this semester. Interning became impossible and doing design projects as a team were also severely affected. Despite that, you have persevered and accomplished graduating from one of the toughest undergraduate programs to get into and graduate from in all of Stony Brook. Here is the best part about making it this far. You have learned to think and adapt. That is the real value of this educational program. You are entering a fluid employment landscape and the engineering prowess that you have developed will make you a desired field to forge your future. A last note: This is the time to move out of your comfort zone a little. So many jobs are now going to allow you to work from virtually anywhere. Before you develop deep roots in a community it is a time to travel and find a place that suits you well. Engineering can be your ticket to open those doors wherever they might be. So nothing is traditional this year, but just think about all the possibilities you are now ready to take on.

Prof. Lifeng Wang

You made it at the toughest time ever. Congratulations on your graduation and all the best for your next adventure!

Prof. Shanshan Yao

Congratulations to you and your families! As a new faculty who joined MEC this year, I am so excited to share this moment with you. Best wishes for your next adventure! The best is yet to come!