Collegian

MSU graduate coordinates international engineering affair

by Jean Arthur

When Meredith Short, '02 Engr, traded in her tailored suit and heels for coveralls, she had no idea that her career switch would lead to an international assignment and high-profile position with one of the world's largest energy firms. The College of Engineering grad packed her bags in January for Sunbury, England, and a yearlong assignment with BP to head an international engineering education program.

Short's meteoric rise from English major to banker to student to engineer with the British-based energy giant resembles the bull market charts that frequented her morning meetings in the banking industry.

"As a kid, I was always taking things apart and reassembling them," said Short. "I loved playing with LEGOs—still do. But when I began applying to colleges at 18 years old, I didn't know much about engineering and never considered it as a career."

The 32-year-old graduated in 1994 with a degree in English from Ohio's Kenyon College, which provided her with "a solid background to do just about anything."

Yet, as she climbed the banking industry corporate ladder, she found her curiosity unsatisfied by daily tasks.

"When you go to work each day and don't feel challenged, then something must change," Short said. "I considered law school or an MBA program."

Instead, she started all over again, tackling a bachelor's of science program in mechanical engineering. She chose MSU because her parents had relocated to Bozeman, and she had had the opportunity to visit the campus, explore engineering labs, meet professors and students and hear about students' research and internships.

"When I told my parents that I intended to go back for an engineering degree, it wasn't like, 'Are you nuts?'" Short said. "Instead, it was "What took you so long?'"

Now, she heads BP's Engineers Week international program, which aims to reach up to five million primary and secondary school children in the U.S. and another several million abroad. As a corporate sponsor and partner with the Engineers Week Foundation, BP coordinates Engineers Week events worldwide.

Short's official title is Engineers Week Project Manager for BP Group Technology.

Short directs the educational program from Sunbury, near London, BP's headquarters for more than 100,000 employees in more than 110 countries. In 2006, another corporation, Northrop Grumman, will lead Engineers Week, and Short will move on to other engineering duties although in which country or what state, she has yet to discover.

For Short, living from a suitcase means different cell phones for different continents, a multi-time-zone watch and a favorite LEGO or two tucked into the pocket of coveralls and khakis, because since she left the banking industry, "I haven't had to wear a suit yet."