Jamie McSorley ’24: I Got This

They say the best way to learn is by doing – and at Hofstra you really get that opportunity.

I did my first internship in the summer after my sophomore year. It was an electrical engineering position with a defense contracting company on Long Island, which was different from my major of mechanical engineering. Thankfully, my Hofstra classes had given me broad knowledge in a lot of different areas, which helped me secure the position.

As a result, I found a real passion for electrical engineering and ended up changing my major after that experience.

I did another internship the following summer in Arizona, working with a company that supports the internal controls and data handling for the International Space Station.

These experiences helped solidify my interests and set me up to secure a great position after graduation. I’ll be heading to Florida to work with Northrop Grumman in their Aeronautics Systems sector.

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MORE ABOUT JAMIE

Jamie McSorley has been on a mission since she started at Hofstra. “I’m interested in aerospace or defense – for the greater impact that it would have on society,” she said. Her new full-time position after graduation with Northrop Grumman shows that mission is being realized.

Jamie wasn’t alone as she went through this self-discovery. When she joined the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, she found a community of fellow female engineers that offered her a chance to expand her skillset and her preprofessional network.

“Hofstra has plenty of groups for female engineers to get involved in, such as the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Cybersecurity, and the W-SPiCE program,” she said. “I never felt excluded or intimidated.”

Her community was found both inside and outside the classroom. Among her extracurriculars, Jamie was president of Eta Kappa Nu (HKN), the honor society for electrical and computer engineers, and treasurer for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She also participated in W-SPiCE (Women’s Summer Program in Computing/Engineering) as a first-year student. Jamie’s non-classroom work wasn’t always tied to engineering, however. She was the volunteer student manager of Hofstra’s women’s basketball team.

“It was fun. I helped support the coaching staff and players during the practices and games. I even got to travel with the team over the January break. I played basketball growing up, and this role helped me stay involved while still focusing on academics.”

Jamie paid her positive experience at the DeMatteis School forward by becoming a peer mentor for other young women pursuing STEM careers. “We have a great mentorship program within the Society of Women Engineers that pairs first-year students with upperclassmen, and I’ve had mentees with whom I still stay in touch with.”

Jamie took advantage of all Hofstra had to offer, and she recommends the same to the incoming classes.

“There are so many opportunities at Hofstra. There is a spot for everyone, and if you aren't sure what that spot is, there are multiple organizations to immerse yourself in, and to find your niche.”

» Jamie’s story isn’t unique. In fact, among Hofstra University’s 2021-2022 undergraduate degree recipients, 92% of alumni from the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science reported they were employed or had started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation. Results are based on data collected from the Alumni Outcomes survey, LinkedIn, National Student Clearinghouse, and Hofstra enrollment (78% knowledge rate). Visit our outcomes page at hofstra.edu/outcomes for detailed information.

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