Alfred University celebrates its transfer students

The week of Oct. 20 was observed as National Transfer Student Week, an annual event that celebrates and supports students who have transferred to a new college or university, along with the higher education professionals who assist them.

Ayomideji Israel-Akinbo transferred to Alfred, enrolling this fall as a junior mechanical engineering major after earning an associate's degree in engineering science from Jamestown (NY) Community College in May.

Ayomideji, who hails from Makhanda, South Africa, aspires to work in the energy industry and hopes to eventually get a PhD degree in nuclear energy. He chose to transfer to Alfred University after a professor in his thermodynamics class at JCC recommended it to him.

"He mentioned Alfred and how they have a very good program in engineering," said Ayomideji, whose older brother also attended JCC.

Ayomideji ultimately chose Alfred because of their renewable energy engineering program and other energy-focused initiatives in the Inamori School of Engineering. They include the GE Vernova Advanced Power Grid Lab, the Edibon Power Systems Simulation Lab, and the Battery Testing Lab in McMahon Engineering Building.

"It's been a very good experience," he said of his first few weeks in Alfred. He has joined the men's rugby team and has explored other co-curricular opportunities. He said his favorite course thus far has been a fluid mechanics class taught by Steven Tidrow, Inamori Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, which he said studies energy creation using fuel cells.

"I like his teaching style," Ayomideji said of Tidrow, adding that students at Alfred benefit from small class sizes. When asked to describe Alfred in three words, Ayomideji responds: "hilly, community, and innovative."