Interview with an Acoustical Engineer: Valerie Smith's Story

Valerie Smith, an acoustical consultant at Salter, shares her journey from middle school to her current role. She discusses her education at Purdue, her work during the pandemic, and offers advice for aspiring engineers. Valerie emphasizes the importance of exploring interests and engaging in extracurricular activities to validate career paths.

What is Valerie Smith's primary focus as an acoustical consultant?

• Noise reduction

• Structural engineering

• Visual design

• Telecommunications

Which university did Valerie attend for her engineering degree?

• University of California

• Purdue University

• Stanford University

• University of Notre Dame

What was Valerie's first job after graduating?

• Starting her own business

• Consulting for a small firm in Portland

• Teaching at a university

• Working at a large corporation

During the pandemic, how has Valerie's work routine changed?

• More Zoom meetings

• Increased face-to-face meetings

• Less collaboration with colleagues

• More site visits

What extracurricular activity does Valerie suggest for students interested in engineering?

• Joining a sports team

• Learning a new language

• Participating in a Rube Goldberg project

• Volunteering at a hospital

What advice does Valerie give about choosing an engineering field?

• Stick to traditional fields

• Focus only on mechanical engineering

• Avoid changing your initial choice

• Explore various applications

What is a key piece of advice Valerie gives to students about their career path?

• Focus only on one discipline

• Avoid asking questions

• Be open to change

• Ignore extracurricular activities