Alumni Profiles - Meet Carmine C. Balascio
Hometown: Newark, DE
Year of Graduation: 1979
Major: Agricultural Engineering Technology, Mathematics
Campus Involvement:
UD Rugby Club
Current Position of Employment or Education:
Associate Professor, UD Departments of Plant and Soil Sciences and Bioresources Engineering
Describe your best Ag experience:
The students in the AET major were a tight-knit group. The camaraderie we developed was an important part of the Ag experience.
Which Ag course was your favorite and why?
There were several AET courses that were particularly helpful. I really liked their practical nature. Dr. Collin's hydraulics course taught me a lot. Dr. Ritter's Soil and Water Conservation course influenced the direction I eventually went with my career.
Tell us about your current position or program of study and what led you to that field.
After getting my master's and Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering at Iowa State University, I came back and joined the faculty in Bioresources Engineering. In my undergraduate years at UD, I developed an interest in water resources engineering. I pursued that area of study in graduate school. Water resources engineering has been my area of expertise since joining the faculty at UD. My primary area of interest is no longer agricultural. The thrust of my work has focused on urban hydrology and storm-water
management - areas that are becoming increasingly important and in which I feel i can have an important impact.
How did your College of Ag experiences prepare you for your current job or post-graduate education?
I received a broad science and technology education that emphasized engineering practice. With the additional math and engineering courses in my program of study, I was very well prepared for graduate school and for eventual licensure as a Professional Engineer.
What advice do you have for students interested in your field?
Get involved with appropriate student clubs (such as ASCE, ASME, NSPE, Engineers Without Borders) and participate in the many out-of-class experiences those clubs facilitate or sponsor. Begin in your freshman year to make contacts that may be useful for getting an internships or co-ops as you progress in your program.
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Socialize with CANR