We all know that EEE is the acronym for Environmental and Ecological Engineering. It was recently pointed out to me that it could also stand for Exceptional and Experiential Education. This alternate “EEE” accurately captures what both undergraduate and graduate EEE students receive.

In 2016, Alysha Helmrich (BSEEE 2017, MSEEE 2018) entered her final year of undergraduate studies, uncertain of what the future held. She made the decision to enroll in the combined degree program, aiming to explore the potential of an academic career.

One year after his graduation, Purdue alumnus Ben Stryker (BSEEE 2018, MSEEE 2019) and his co-worker took a risk by starting a civil engineering firm. Their company, Rainier Stormwater Engineering (RSE), was created with a focus on drainage and low impact development – both critical for its home community of Seattle, WA.

Dr. Rebecca Ciez knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue engineering. Her family background in STEM gave her an almost instinctive engineering perspective on the world. Early in her career, she was drawn to one of the world’s pressing engineering issues: sustainability.

Nearly 32 years ago, Eric Larson (Biology, BS ’90, Environmental Engineering, MS ’92) completed his master’s degree oral examination and waited outside an office containing what he called “three legendary Purdue professors.”

Last December, Rylan Elliott, Thalia May, and Adam Spieth, all Purdue Environmental and Ecological Engineering master’s students, traveled to the central Dominican Republic (DR) with a mission: to explore sustainable and reliable water access solutions for local communities.