This presence of community in the department helped me to succeed academically and socially.
Ethan Ravotta '24
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Smithsburg, MD
Ethan Ravotta is a senior undergraduate student at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CHBE) graduating in May of 2024.
Originally from Smithsburg, Maryland, Ravotta chose to pursue a chemical engineering program after discovering his interest for chemistry and mathematics studies in High School. He was also attracted to the versatility of the profession, allowing him to explore possibilities within academia and the industry.
Ravotta is an active member of the campus community as part of the University Honors program, a board advisor for ChemE Car, a player of the Maryland Ultimate B Men's Club, and a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter.
He stepped into the field last Summer as an intern with Washington Gas, where he developed computer-aided design and geography information systems-based projects. This experience also allowed him to conduct visits to pipeline construction sites with the natural gas company. More recently, Ravotta interned with FM Global as a risk engineer intern over the Summer, where created solutions to help clients reduce the probability and severity of property damage.
Moving forward, Ravotta is excited to join ExxonMobil as a Field Engineer in Houston, Texas next year, where he will assist with project management and technical support for the operations team. He says that his Maryland Engineering education provided him with the skills needed to succeed in his professional career.
“Mass transfer, fluid transport, and reactor design are all critical subjects for my upcoming career, and the program has given me the necessary tools to understand and solve problems related to these,” said Ravotta. “However, the communication and leadership skills that I acquired will enable me to effectively execute my responsibilities and progress my career,” he said.
Through department-sponsored clubs like AIChE and ChemE Car, Ravotta found a support system among a group of peers who he would spend the rest of his time with at Maryland.
“This presence of community in the department helped me to succeed academically and socially,” he said.
In the long term, Ravotta plans to earn a Master’s of Business Administration to transition into managerial roles with the goal to advance the energy sector.
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