By Paris Carter
The Outreach Engineering Management (OEM) program at the University of Florida celebrated a major milestone in May as it surpassed 1,000 graduates. The achievement highlights the program’s success in shaping and cultivating future engineering leaders.
“I chose the OEM program for the flexible schedule, but what truly stood out was the cohort experience and lasting relationships,” said Shane Heindl, a design engineer at MasTec who was honored as the 1000th OEM graduate. “Each class gave me new tools to apply in my job, but I also learned just as much from hearing how my classmates applied the same material in their own roles.”
Offered jointly by the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the Warrington College of Business, the 20-month interdisciplinary program leads to a Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) with a concentration in engineering management. Students also have the option to pursue a concurrent MBA, which can be completed with 12 additional months of study. The program includes courses in management, finance, accounting, and marketing.
“OEM is a robust program that has stood the test of time. Reaching the 1,000 graduate milestone is simply a recognition that this is a successful program that fills an important gap in the educational portfolio of the state university system,” noted Serdar Kirli, Ph. D., former OEM instructor and current associate chair for undergraduate and professional programs in ISE.
OEM is designed for working professionals. Classes meet just one weekend a month in Orlando. The city’s central location, major industry presence, and airport access have made it an ideal hub for OEM students across the state and country. The two-day weekend class format allows students to expand their professional networks and maintain close interaction with expert faculty.
“The flexibility of our program serves students well. Most of our students tell us they spend about 10–15 hours per week on each class. The flexibility of our schedule gives them the time to budget their own schedule as they need,” said Patsy Messinger, OEM’s associate director.
The program was a perfect fit for Shelley DiMaio, a working single mother who wanted to further her education.
“Balancing studies, full-time work, and being a single mom was challenging, but it was rewarding to set an example for my children,” said Shelley DiMaio, a recent OEM graduate. “They often joined me in studying, turning it into a competition, which led them to achieve A honor roll status and aspire to attend UF.”
DiMaio is now a program manager at a leading aerospace and defense technology company.
OEM’s close-knit, in-person format fosters meaningful connections among students.
“That shared, real-world perspective is something I wouldn’t have gained in a purely online or even a traditional in-person program,” said Heindl. “It was the long-term connections that made the difference.”
Kirli noted the immersive format, including evening office hours, gives students the support to balance rigorous coursework with full-time jobs and personal responsibilities. He emphasized that the wide range of engineering backgrounds among cohort members leads to dynamic classroom discussions.
“The classroom sessions are not necessarily unidirectional; often they involve discussions by many participants and lead to exploration of subjects in ways hard to anticipate,” said Kirli.
The program culminates with a capstone project in which students identify real workplace challenges — either from their own departments or through conversations with colleagues — and apply practical solutions. These projects often boost their visibility and open doors to management or leadership roles.
“The program helped me realize my passion and aptitude for strategy development, which guided me to choose a new career path,” said DiMaio. “The strategy-focused classes were where I excelled the most, affirming my decision.”
“Our alumni often report significant career advancement soon after completing OEM, including higher salaries, new leadership roles and challenging experiences that provide greater professional fulfillment,” Messinger noted. “I am struck by how frequently students also mention the lifelong friendships that they make in the program, and how important and enduring these overlapping personal and professional relationships become.”
DiMaio agreed.
“I made incredible friends who I now consider family, said DiMaio. “I learned that even after 20 years away from school, with hard work, I could keep up with the younger generation.”
The program’s impact is evident through its alumni. Many alumni advance into roles such as engineering managers, senior engineering managers and directors and vice presidents of engineering firms. Several OEM alumni serve on the ISE advisory board and have been inducted into the UF ISE Hall of Fame.
As the program celebrates its milestone, OEM’s faculty remains focused on enhancing the graduate student experience. Future goals include strengthening the immersive classroom model, expanding industry partnerships, and continuously refining the curriculum to meet the growing demands of today’s workforce.
A new program begins each fall semester. For more information on how to apply, contact Messinger at 352-392-0982 or messinger@ise.ufl.edu.