During college, Lauren Meffe (BS Civil Engineering ’20) spent her summers interning at Eastman.
That experience helped her land a full-time job at Eastman when she graduated.
For her first three years with the company, Meffe worked in the plant engineering organization where she provided structural engineering support for the Kingsport site’s utilities division. She worked on maintenance, repairs, and capital growth projects for the organization. In the past six months, she’s accepted a new assignment where she splits her time between structural support for Eastman’s sites worldwide and doing asset integrity work, which includes developing corporate criteria for maintaining Eastman’s civil/structural assets throughout the life of the asset.
Following in Engineering Footsteps
By working at Eastman, Meffe—who was born and raised in Kingsport—is following in the footsteps of her parents. Her mother, Patricia Meffe, who has a degree in business from Milligan University, is a program manager in Eastman’s worldwide engineering and construction division, and her father, David Meffe, who has engineering degrees from West Virginia University and the University of Virginia, is a civil/structural engineer and works in Eastman’s procurement division.
“I did have pretty early exposure to engineering,” she said. Despite her parents’ jobs, Meffe said they never pushed her to choose the career.
“But I loved math and physics,” she said. “I loved how you could visualize physics and apply it to things in your everyday life.”
She wanted a career that would allow her to use math and physics, work on teams, and impact people. Engineering fit the bill.
Experiencing UT’s Engineering Program
“There were a couple of reasons why I chose UT,” Meffe said. “Campus felt very welcoming. I could see myself being on campus.”
Also, she said, “I could see early on that there were a lot of opportunities, clubs, and organizations you could get involved in. I knew I could find something I’d be passionate about.”
Meffe said she attended UT’s Engineering Expo during her freshman year. She talked to Eastman recruiters, which eventually led to her landing a position with Eastman through the Engineering Internship Program. She worked paid internships at Eastman during the summers after her freshman, sophomore, and junior years.
“Every summer it was kind of like an interview,” she said. “It gave the people I worked with an opportunity to see what I could do and let me see the different roles and opportunities that were there for me.”
One summer, she worked in the global engineering service center doing mechanical and structural engineering work, another summer she worked in the advanced work packaging and construction excellence team which focused on improving productivity, safety, and the planning and execution of capital projects, and one summer she worked on the same plant engineering team she ended up working with for 3.5 years.
“So, I had already formed connections with some of those employees when I started.”
Making Strides in Her Career
Now that she’s four years into her career, Meffe is planning to take the next step: pursuing a professional engineering license.
“It gives me credibility in what I’m doing in the engineering world. It could open up other opportunities for the future,” she said.
Meffe’s advice to current UT engineering students: “Get involved in some way with research, internships, or co-ops. Get exposure to what it’s like to be an engineer to determine what you will like and what you don’t like.”
During her college days, Meffe served as an engineering ambassador, leading campus tours for prospective students. She also served as a professional practice ambassador, working in the office that helps students prepare for career fairs, write effective resumes, and prepare for job interviews. And she got involved in the American Society of Civil Engineers student chapter. She’s remained active in ASCE and is now vice president of the Holston Branch of the organization.
When she’s not working, Meffe enjoys playing pickleball, traveling, and being outdoors, whether it’s to do yard work, exercise, or run.
And she’s a big fan of coffee.
“I’m always up for going to a coffee shop and trying something new,” she said.