Welcome to “3 Questions with …”, a recurring feature on the Career Center blog. We’re asking alumni of all graduation years and career interests to share a bit of their experiences and advice.
Paige Shephard, E’, MS EngMgmt ’15, Engineering Project Manager, Enertiv
In just a few sentences, please tell us about your current job.
I would consider myself a full-time freelancer now, so my current job is a combination of multiple part-time jobs. I am a production manager at Berklee College of Music, a sound and lighting technician with Silk Events, a worship ministry intern at Encounter Church. I also do some periodic audio engineering work at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), and The Wandering Stage. All of these jobs involve planning, setting up, operating, and troubleshooting audio equipment in order for the wedding, corporate event, performance, reception, class, or service to run at its best.
How did your time at Tufts influence your career?
It was at Tufts where I was able to pivot and find the right niche of engineering that brought me the most joy and excitement. Initially coming into Tufts with an undecided major, I spent my first 2 years transferring into the engineering school. Once I got comfortable there and delved deeper into mechanical engineering, I found myself unmotivated in my classes due to not seeing future applications that excited me. But being able to use my engineering skills with audio equipment, that provided a creative and interpersonal tie that really resonated with me. So I found a way to combine 3 of the Music Engineering minor tracks to create a full major for myself. If I were to shout any specific faculty out, I would like to thank Dean Jennifer Stephan, my advisor Brianna Bouchard, and unofficial advisor Margot Cardamone who supported me as a person, encouraged me to forge my own path, and walked with me through logistics to get over the finish line.
What advice would you offer to a student who wants to pursue a career path like yours?
The advice that I would give is that it exists! Continue to hold onto the vision that tells you that there is a job out there that’s a beautiful combination of all of the things you like wrapped up into one. I wouldn’t have taken the leap I did If I didn’t believe that. I would also say that as long as you’re willing to keep growing and learning new skills on your own at times, there’s no field that engineering can’t combine with.
