Hi everyone! My name is Andrew Cohen, and I am a first-year student at the Swanson School of Engineering. I am from Ocean Township, New Jersey, which is located in the center (yes, Central Jersey does exist), and right on the coast about five minutes from the beach. Fun fact – Kenny Pickett is from the same hometown as me! Because I live so close to the beach, summer is my favorite time of year not only because there is no school, but also because on hot, summer days, there is nothing better than being on the beach all day and getting ice cream on the boardwalk after. I swam competitively from ages ten to eighteen, and I also lifeguarded for a few summers when I became old enough. One other passion of mine is cooking and trying new dishes to make, which has really sparked my love for trying new cuisines and dishes and made me the “foodie” I am. 

In regard to academics, I am majoring in Industrial Engineering. One reason I chose this discipline was because it seemed like one of the few in engineering that has areas to become cross disciplinary. This is why I am intending to pursue either a minor in math or economics, and I am possibly thinking about going to law school for patent law (but that’s just a thought at the moment). Since my time at Pitt, I joined the local team of the Engineers Without Borders Club. Last semester, we worked with an environmental justice class that was discussing a way to terrace a hill in North Oakland on Pitt’s campus that was being overgrown with invasive species. Additionally, I became a pathfinder, the tour guide job/organization on campus, and it has definitely made me more knowledgeable about the school and Pittsburgh. 

This summer, I will be going to Vietnam through the Plus3 Vietnam program. As a group, we will be working with students at the University of Economics and Finance and going on several site visits to different companies to learn about Vietnam’s development and strive for globalization. One of the reasons I chose Vietnam is the topic of globalization and development. I chose industrial engineering as my major because I wanted to get a sense of how large companies and operations work. By having the opportunity to go to different sites and learn about the inner-workings of these companies, it should only enhance my passion for industrial engineering. I also wanted to pick a country that I would have never thought to go to before, and by going to Vietnam, I should become more culturally aware. 

Lastly, I am a huge “foodie.” Vietnamese cuisine has so many unique styles and the dishes seem to have so much complexity and flavor. Through trying different foods and Vietnamese “classics,” I feel like I can become more connected with Vietnamese culture. This is another reason why I am excited to interact with the Vietnamese students at UEF because they can give insight as to what to try to really embrace the culture. I can’t wait for this experience!