Yaminee Patel is heading to Seattle after graduation to join Amazon as a robotics deployment engineer.
Patel received her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering on Dec. 6 and is excited to get started in January in her new role that combines her technical background with her project management skills. During her years at The University of Toledo College of Engineering, Patel is most proud of the mandatory co-op experiences she completed.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: During this time when we cannot come together to celebrate our graduates, UToledo is recognizing the Class of 2020 with a series of feature stories on students who received their degrees during our Dec. 6 virtual commencement ceremony.
“With the help of the College of Engineering, I was able to interview with incredible companies and land co-ops at major companies like GE Appliances and Amazon. These opportunities helped me discover myself and shaped the direction of my career,” Patel said. “If I told myself four years ago that I’d be able to accomplish so much, I would never have believed it!”
But she’s not done yet.
“And I also intend on getting my MBA within the next five years to continue to sharpen my project management skills,” she said.
Patel credited the Shah Center for Engineering Career Development for being an incredible resource on her path to success with the support of its associate director Kalen DeCant.
“I asked her for advice at the very start of my career search, came to her with my career struggles, and always met with her to celebrate my successes,” Patel said. “My career path was not so straightforward but Kalen helped me navigate my options.”
DeCant said the first time she met Patel she knew that there was no limit to her success.
Patel
“Yaminee is a leader. She is passionate, driven and is unstoppable,” DeCant said. “She has the capability to do whatever she puts her mind to. I cannot wait to see how she makes an impact on the world because I know she definitely will.”
Christie Hennen, associate director of student services for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Engineering, also helped Patel when she was “an anxious mess” as a senior at Anthony Wayne High School deciding her future plans.
“She has always advocated for my success and I cannot thank her enough,” Patel said. “She has quite literally been there for me since day one.”
Hennen said that Yaminee has been a joy to work with during her time in the College of Engineering.
“She has such a positive attitude and a passion to pursue her goals. Her excitement is an encouragement to everyone she encounters,” Hennen said. “Her dedication is not only to her future, but to assisting others as well. Yaminee has served as a peer mentor to underclassmen and has been a student leader of many campus organizations. I’m excited to see what the future holds for her.”
