Mechanical Engineering Student Selected as Member of ASME Petroleum Division Collegiate Council

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Russell Locetta

Russell Locetta, a junior Honors College student majoring in mechanical engineering, was recently selected to be a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Petroleum Division Collegiate Council. Locetta was one of 26 students selected from universities in North America. This is the first time a mechanical engineering student from the University of Arkansas has been a member of the council.

The Collegiate Council was established in 2003 as an initiative to involve students in the future of the ASME Petroleum Division. As members of the Collegiate Council, students are able to learn more about the oil and gas industry, network with professionals, and interact with other students who share similar interests.

“I’m from Houston, which is a hub for oil and gas, and my father worked in the oil and gas industry,” Locetta said. “However, I came to be interested in oil and gas on my own. I was naturally drawn to the industry because most of our energy is provided by oil and natural gas, and it’s extremely important for the world.”

Since the beginning of his sophomore year, Locetta has been working with Brian Henderson, director of employer relations for the College of Engineering. Their goal has been to educate students about the oil and gas industry.

As a member of the Collegiate Council, Locetta is hopeful that he can attract major oil and gas companies to U of A. “If we educate and immerse our students in the industry, companies will come here, see our interest and expertise, and be much more likely to come back,” he said.

Locetta is hoping to involve the university as a whole in the advancement of knowledge on the oil and gas industry. His goal is to connect a handful of professors who are interested in oil and gas so that they can start a conversation on how to work together as a whole to educate students at the University of Arkansas.

For more information on the Collegiate Council, visit www.asme-ipti-cc.org.