The President of the College of Engineering Alumni Association wants to connect undergraduates with mentors in their fields—he was one, himself.

Since graduating in 2011, Glenn Dickerson's work has taken him from projects like the recent FMC Tower near 30th Street Station, to a mecca for construction: New York City, where he is a Construction Superintendent for Turner Construction.

Though his current project is for Rockefeller University (River Campus Project), he got his start much closer to home: George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science at 17th and Norris. He followed his own grandfather into construction, too.

"I started in ECE, but became more passionate about building and chose the construction management route. It's much more hands-on," Dickerson said during an interview. "I love the experience of being in the field, being hands-on and working with a team. It takes a team to build a project from the ground-up."

Dickerson was a driving force behind the recent Alumni Career Panel that brought recent alumni back to dish on their career experiences, the art of interviewing and transitioning into their new careers. As a former recruiter for Turner Construction, he thought students would benefit from the last-minute resume review and honing their elevator pitch with professionals who were in their shoes just a year or two prior.

"It's always good to see an alum, as a student," Dickerson said. "It gives you a snapshot of where you might be in a few years and what that degree is worth."

It's part of a larger focus for Dickerson in his role as President of the Alumni Association: to connect students with an active, engaged alumni network for tangible preparedness and mentorship.

"The College of Engineering has more than 11,000 alumni, but if we can tap into an active one percent, connect them with students in a mentorship sense, while also showing the entire alumni network the value of their degree, it's a good start," Dickerson added.

The value of his degree is certainly working. With internships with SEPTA, Penn DOT and Turner Construction under his belt, Dickerson hopes to continue climbing the professional ladder, adding skills and certifications along the way, while keeping up with the 'hands-on' aspects of construction.

"I want to be the guy, boots on the ground," he said. "Leading a project to successful completion."

Are you an alum with advice or a story to tell? Contact Amy Krauss, Associate Director of Development, at amy.krauss@temple.edu.