Mechanical engineering graduate joins the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA) as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the department.
Visiting Assistant Professor Enrico Obst received his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2015 and his Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering in 2016. Obst joined the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA) faculty in 2016 and has been with the College ever since.
Upon reflection of his student experience, Obst states what drew him to UHart and CETA as a student was the small class sizes. He felt more comfortable speaking up when he didn’t fully understand the material, and the one-on-one connections he was able to make with many mechanical engineering faculty made an impact on his educational experience here. “Many of my professors not only helped me in understanding the material, but also realized my potential and pushed me past my own expectations. I can say that without Dr. Milanovic and Dr. Yavuzturk, I would not be the confident professional I am today,” Obst says. Along with the relationships he built with his faculty, Obst was thankful for the many valuable experiences while being a student in CETA.
Enrico Obst ’15, M’16As an undergraduate, I had the privilege on working closely with several faculty and the Dean of CETA on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) project. Through this student led project, I was able to travel and work with outside professionals throughout the United States. I started the project as a mechanical engineer during my junior year in my undergraduate degree and later became the project manager during my graduate studies at the University. Thanks to the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium at the University, I attended the Aircraft Readiness Workshop in North Carolina over the summer of 2014. The experience not only prepared me for the research project I was working on, but my overall professional career. Since this event, I have continued to work closely with the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium as an instructor for additional UAV and aircraft events in collaboration with Universities across Connecticut.
Obst works tirelessly to give his students the same individualized attention he received as a student. He knows from his own experience how important it is to take that extra time to encourage students to reach their full potential. When students meet with Obst for their capstone proposals, he makes sure they have a project challenging enough to meet their individual abilities. Not only does he know the students well enough to personalize their advising, but also how connect them to University resources. Obst’s personal experiences as a student, has better equipped him to connect his students with resources at the University and around the state.