As a project automation engineer at BuhlerPrince, Inc., Temitope Ogunnioki spends her days designing and writing code for the machines her company produces. During her years at Calvin, she not only became a well-qualified engineer but was also prepared to enter her field with a deeper purpose.
What excites you the most about your engineering major?
I really want to make a meaningful change in the world. As an engineer, I have the chance to design solutions that can change lives and societies and help make resources more affordable.
In my own country of Nigeria, there are agricultural regions that don’t have a steady power supply. Bringing renewable energy to these areas would be the first step toward greater things. That’s something I could make happen with the skills my engineering degree equips me with.
Was there anything about Calvin that surprised you?
When I first came to Calvin, I didn’t realize the true value of a liberal arts education. At first, it felt like that just meant a lot of extra classes. But I quickly realized how those classes enriched my engineering experience. They opened my mind to fresh ideas and new things. I enjoyed them so much that I decided to register for a political science class even though it wasn’t a requirement for graduation.
What’s something valuable you’ve learned at Calvin?
I learned about the brokenness of the world and how we as Christians work towards restoring that brokenness. We also have to listen to others—not just react to them, but understand their perspective.
At Calvin, I was able to see the world from perspectives very different than my own, and that’s truly humbling. Seeking justice for the oppressed starts with listening to what people have to say.