Paul de Andrea

Video Transcript

Hello. I'm Paul DeAndrea from Franklin, New York, and I am 53 years old, and I'm substation manager of Operations here at New York State Electric and Gas in Oneonta, New York, and I'm a Kansas State Wildcat. My responsibilities include substation operations from essentially the Brewster, New York area, which is in Westchester County, to the Canadian border in Plattsburg, New York.

Why go back to school now?

I first started looking at the master's program about 25 years ago at a local engineering school, and it didn't work out. So I still wanted to do something and I was at that point where if I didn't do it soon, I might not be able to do it. So I started looking on the Internet for programs that might be of interest, and I found the Kansas State program.

Why K-State?

The course content was the first thing that drew my interest. And their course line-up was excellent, just from reading the descriptions and looking at things online.

How did you balance school with work and family?

Right from the very beginning, I always made a point of not getting behind. Now, that meant balancing time with the family, so that meant staying up long after the children had gone to bed and then watching the video tapes or watching the online programs through K-State Online. And then of course when that was done, going over notes and doing homework. It took me five years—I took one course per semester. That was about my limit with balancing work and balancing family and trying to do some other things, too. It worked out pretty well.

Did you get to know people in your program?

I got to know one student quite well from the very first class I was in because I was assigned as a partner with that student. I wound up later on actually asking him for help on one project that I was working on after he had graduated, in fact.

How has your degree changed your career?

I envisioned this enabling me to continue working longer than I probably would have worked—not necessarily where I work now, but perhaps doing some other line of business as a consultant, or perhaps in education.

Quick Facts about the Electrical Engineering Master's Degree Program

Degree: Master's
Description: Concentration in chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, or software engineering or engineering management
Course delivery: Online
Application requirements: Bachelor's degree in engineering or related fields with 3.0 minimum GPA on last 60 credits. May require specific undergraduate courses*.
Completion requirements: 30-33 credit hours with 3.0 minimum GPA; *See website for complete listing.

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering
Franklin, New York

As a manager of substation operations for New York State Electric and Gas, Paul has spent his career as a go-to person when problems arise. For 25 years, he wanted to earn a master's degree to enhance his professional understanding of his field, but life kept getting in the way. Now with his master's degree complete, he sees many possibilities in his future.