by Dr. Matthew McMahon, Assistant Professor of Engineering Sciences

“Woodshop open!” my son exclaimed one evening as we strolled past two students hard at work on their Senior thesis. You’ve likely never met a toddler with a more Webb-centric vocabulary. My wife and I are continuously surprised by his asks to “go in mansion,” “swing gazebo,” “ring bell at boathouse,” and “say hi to Gee-yail-mree” (as he calls Gailmarie). And as impressed as we are with his word recall and sense of direction on campus, we are equally impressed by the students’ maturity and receptivity to living alongside our young family.

Whether simply stopping to wave hello or going out of their way to make conversation, the students are not only polite and respectful but also willing to engage and develop a deep sense of community. It is a privilege to witness and share in the pride and excitement with which Webbies blend the social dynamics of academia with the everyday rhythms of campus life. Cheering on the Webb basketball team, watching the freshman boat races, attending a regatta, and listening to the Webbstock bands are just a few of the many settings that present opportunities to build solidarity and connections with the students. And these casual encounters allow for meaningful exchanges – discussions about coursework, advice for careers, or conversations about Winter Work.

Thomas standing by the fountain and looking at Webb – the mansion he calls home.

These interactions naturally complement the internal dynamics of classroom instruction and allow me to approach academic mentorship more wholistically. Among my aims as a Webb professor is to delineate potential career paths for students and help students build a professional network that can support their first steps on those paths. I often relate to student mentees how integral professional networking and collaboration is to my own work as a Materials Engineer with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD).

With these goals in mind, I have worked towards establishing for the Webb students what I see as a valuable privatepublic collaboration that will enhance opportunities for experiential learning, mentorship, and networking. Through a new Educational Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Webb Institute and NSWCCD, Webb students will, during the academic year, be able to access state-of-the-art research equipment at NSWCCD facilities, collaborate with research mentors on thesis proposals and research projects, and connect with a wide range of Navy professionals for an insider’s glimpse of a career with the Navy. Similarly, NSWCCD engineers will have the opportunity to visit Webb, access Webb’s research capabilities, and present upcoming recruitment opportunities to students.

This exciting new EPA strengthens the relationship between Webb and NSWCCD and allows for the exchange of innovative ideas and the execution of cutting-edge research. The collaboration resonates with the pursuit of academic and engineering excellence that I have come to observe firsthand in Webb’s highly motivated student body, and I am confident that Webbies will meaningfully contribute to building the collective expertise and benefit from the professional exposure that the EPA will provide.