GW Scholar Interns with U.S. Army, Pursues Master’s in Engineering

This semester, Posse Scholar Brandon O’Dell will graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering from The George Washington University (GW).

Brandon has been focused on a career in engineering since he was in high school, placing GW as his first choice for undergraduate studies due to the school’s exceptional programs in the field.

GW’s Career Conquest Program in particular has given him opportunities to build experience in engineering beyond the classroom. While Brandon originally thought he might pursue a career in emergency medicine, he says his explorations as an undergraduate have instead pointed him to a future in electrical engineering.

“It’s a testament to the way hard work pays off.”

“The Career Conquest Program gave me the chance to hone career preparatory skills and directly interact with industry professionals,” Brandon says, pointing to his week-long experience in Los Angeles connecting with representatives from Hulu, Disney Imagineering, Universal Studios, and a wide range of other talent agencies and Fortune 500 companies.

This past summer he interned with the U.S. Army as an engineering student trainee in the Combat Capabilities and Development Command-Soldier Center, an opportunity he secured through the 2020 Black Engineers of the Year Award conference in D.C. Brandon notes that several of his GW peers have secured professional roles at the annual event.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Brandon has now made plans to stay at GW to attend the School of Engineering and Applied Science beginning this spring. He will pursue a Master of Science in electrical engineering with a concentration in applied electromagnetics.

“All of this has happened in a matter of months,” says Brandon, pointing to his internship accomplishments and graduate degree plans. “It’s a testament to the way hard work pays off.”