MELODY VELDORALe ‘22,‘23:

Landing a dream job before graduation

For Melody, it’s not just a job, but an opportunity of a lifetime: They will begin work as a General Engineer at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, a research and technology company sponsored by the United States federal government and located in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, o en referred to as, “the most innovative square mile on the planet.” In their new position, Melody will travel internationally and use geographic information systems (GIS) mapping to help preserve and protect the environment.

“I’m a nontraditional student; I have been through multiple career changes before I finally found the right fit,” Melody says. “I finally decided to go back to school for environmental engineering, and I chose UMass Dartmouth for the reputation of its engineering programs. That’s when I truly found my place.”