Internships, Mentoring and Networking Leads an NJIT Grad to Honeywell

As Fimimolaoluwa Are prepares to start working at Honeywell after earning a bachelor’s in chemical engineering, she feels grateful for all the support and experiences she had at New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“Chemical engineer I” is her title at Honeywell, where she’ll undergo a year of training before joining the company’s Field Operating Service team. Reflecting on how she got there, she credits mentors, internships, networking and the embrace of a welcoming community.

Are had three internships as an undergraduate. She worked in environmental engineering at Phillips 66 (an opportunity she secured at an NJIT Career Fair), process improvement engineering at Dow Chemical and data analysis at the Refinery Automation Institute. “All of my internship experiences allowed me to significantly augment my chemical engineering skills and equipped me with a diverse range of experiences,” she said.

Two key mentors guided Are. Senior University Lecturer Nellone Reid encouraged her to be dynamic and adaptable and NJIT alumna Daniela Bushiri — a fellow chemical engineering major who’s now pursuing a Ph.D. at Columbia University — recommended internships and job opportunities, shared textbooks and practice questions and helped her polish her resumé and interview skills.

She networked through professional clubs. Are belonged to the NJIT chapters of the Society of Women Engineers and the National Society of Black Engineers, where she served as president as a senior. “It was through these clubs that I found a supportive community, invaluable mentorship and the inspiration to pursue my career goals,” Are said.

An award and a scholarship provided recognition and support. The Madame Mau Outstanding Female Engineering Student Award inspired her to strive for excellence and advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, while the Jacqueline Kane Endowed Scholarship validated her academic achievements and supported her financially.

Are felt welcomed on campus. “People were genuinely friendly and willing to help,” she said. “The abundance of resources, connections and organizations provide countless opportunities for me to excel and thrive. This supportive community was instrumental in helping me navigate my academic journey and ultimately succeed.”