Individual Guidance

Academic Advising and Faculty Counseling

For all first year students in the Engineering College, initial planning and advising are handled through the Office of the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies. After you select Mechanical Engineering at the end of the freshman year as your major, Bonnie Olson or Barbara J. Robbins, the department academic advisors, will be assigned as your academic advisor. They will continue to assist you with any curriculum questions and registration issues for the remainder of your studies.

During sophomore year, you should begin planning your career at Carnegie Mellon in earnest. Rather than assigning a professor as your faculty mentor, during your sophomore year, if you prefer, you will have the opportunity to choose a mentor. Information on the website, introductions at the sophomore dinner, and faculty visits during sophomore classes will assist you with your selection. In the meantime, if at any time a meeting with a faculty member would be helpful, arrangements may be made through the Academic Advisor offices. At the end of your sophomore year, if you have not already selected a faculty mentor, one will be assigned for you.

In general, your faculty mentor will:

• Explain technical content of coursework and suggest concentrations appropriate to career objectives
• Discuss research and summer internship opportunities
• Offer graduate school and employment path advice
• Offer general advice and mentoring

Bonnie or BJ will:

• Verify progress toward degree requirements
• Discuss course alternatives for CIT requirements and electives
• Register research credit
• Assist with pre-requisite waivers
• Offer basic information regarding double major/minors, study abroad procedures, etc
• Explain summer transfer credit policies

When you select a faculty mentor, please email your advisor (Bonnie or B.J.) to verify that additional advisees are acceptable to the professor and to officially note the designation on your records.

Learn more about faculty interests.

Professor Shelley Anna
Professor Jon Cagan
Professor Steve Collins
Professor Fred Higgs
Professor Burak Kara
Professor Phil LeDuc
Professor Shawn Lister
Professor Carmel Majidi
Professor Jon Malen
Professor Alan McGaughey
Professor Jeremy Michalek
Professor Burak Ozdoganlar
Professor Yoed Rabin
Professor Bob Reid
Professor Sheng Shen
Professor Satbir Singh
Professor Metin Sitti
Professor Paul Steif
Professor Ryan Sullivan
Professor Shi-Chune Yao
Professor Jessica Zhang