Alumni Spotlight: Kyle Kramer finds a community of curiosity, critical thinking and impact in chemical engineering
For Kyle Kramer, choosing 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech felt like more than picking a university鈥攊t
felt like finding a community that truly cared.
鈥淚 remember touring campus and being amazed that professors took the time to personally talk with me about their research and classes, and what life at Tech was like,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat experience showed me that Tech wasn鈥檛 just about academics鈥攊t was about mentorship, community and helping students reach their potential.鈥�
Originally from Johnson City, 成年人深夜福利在线观看, Kramer graduated from Tech in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, concentrating in bio-molecular engineering. During his time on campus, he threw himself into opportunities to lead, learn and give back. He was active in the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) serving in several leadership roles and helped lead Push America events through Greek Life (now known nationally as The Ability Experience).
鈥淏oth organizations strengthened my leadership and collaboration skills while keeping me grounded in service, inclusion and the human side of engineering,鈥� he said.
When he looks back, Kramer鈥檚 favorite memories center around the chemical engineering department鈥檚 tight-knit community. 鈥淲e spent countless late nights in Prescott Hall, brewing cheap coffee, solving problems and figuring things out together,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ometimes professors would wander in after hours and jump right into the conversation. Everyone cared, and that made the hard work feel meaningful.鈥�
Among the professors who made a lasting impact, Robby Sanders, Ph.D., associate professor of chemical engineering, stands out. Working in Sanders鈥� Biomolecular Medicine Lab, Kramer studied how nanoparticles called dendrimers move through different materials for drug delivery. 鈥淭hat experience opened my eyes to how engineering and medicine intersect in solving real health challenges,鈥� he said. He also credits Pedro Arce, Ph.D., professor of chemical engineering, and Holly Stretz, Ph.D., professor emerita, for challenging him to think critically and creatively鈥攎entorship that continues to guide him today, he said.
Kramer鈥檚 time at Tech also included hands-on experiences that shaped his career path. Through the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Grant program, he spent a summer conducting research on campus and later interned with Cumberland Emerging Technologies in Nashville, working in early-stage pharmaceutical development. 鈥淭hose two experiences鈥攐ne in the lab and one in industry鈥攈elped me connect the dots between science, engineering and impact,鈥� he said.
After graduation, Kramer set out to build a career where he could combine engineering, innovation and impact. He started in advanced development and sustainability roles, then transitioned into automation and digital transformation work. Eventually, his curiosity led him to earn an MBA from Duke University, where he learned how to connect technical innovation with business strategy.
Today, Kramer serves as a Digital Strategy Manager at Aberdeen Advisors, leading digital and AI transformation initiatives that help organizations bridge the gap between emerging technologies and real-world impact.
鈥淢y career path has been anything but linear, but every step was built on the foundation I gained at Tech,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he problem-solving mindset, the teamwork and the drive to keep learning鈥攖hose lessons still guide me every day.鈥�
When asked what advice he would give to future Golden Eagles considering chemical engineering, Kramer doesn鈥檛 hesitate: 鈥淚f you鈥檙e considering chemical engineering at Tech, know that you鈥檙e stepping into a community that will challenge you to think bigger and support you every step of the way. You鈥檒l leave Tech with more than a degree鈥攜ou鈥檒l leave with the confidence and mindset to take on whatever comes next.鈥�
Looking back, Kramer says 成年人深夜福利在线观看 Tech will always hold a special place in his story.
鈥淚t鈥檚 where I learned not just what kind of engineer I wanted to be, but what kind of person I wanted to be,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he lessons I learned there鈥攁bout teamwork, curiosity and perseverance鈥攃ontinue to shape my approach to leadership and innovation today.鈥�