Grad plans to have an electric impact in the renewable energy field
ASU grad C.J. Hassett aspires to work in the renewable energy industry. His ultimate career goal post-graduation? Pursuing a job where he can work with solar electric cars.
As a boy, Hassett always enjoyed hands-on activities and solving problems. He grew up in Phoenix, where he attended Brophy College Preparatory high school, and Saint Francis Xavier elementary school.
When it came time to choose a major for college, Hassett chose to study mechanical engineering at ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. His decision was ultimately based on his knack for problem solving, creativity and his love for participating in interactive activities.
Engineering ASU grad C.J. Hassett.
“I just enjoyed working with my hands and solving problems. I just kind of looked at the things I did enjoy doing and all of them kind of pointed toward engineering,” Hassett said. “So that was kind of my big aha moment. I was like, oh, this kind of looks like the perfect thing to do for me.”
Originally, Hassett was not very interested in cars at all. However, once he discovered the world of solar energy and the role solar cars played in it he was intrigued. Solar cars take energy from the sun and turn it into electricity, storing the energy in the car battery to be used when the vehicle is being operated.
“I've really enjoyed classic cars since a young age but never felt a connection to the cars that were being made when I was growing up until solar cars. I get the same sort of butterflies in my stomach where I’m excited when I think about old classic cars and when I think about the new solar cars coming to the market,” Hassett said.
Hassett is pursuing opportunities with various renewable energy companies. In addition to exploring his passion for solar energy and the solar car industry, Hassett was involved in student engagement during his time as a Sun Devil. Hassett was a building manager for the Student Center at the Downtown Campus, where he worked daily with students on campus and was the treasurer of the Transfer Student Alliance. As a building manager Hassett helps organize events for students and manages other student workers.
“I plan and organize events and things like that. So if you have an event and want it to be set up, you go online, go through our website and plan it, it gets sent to me, I set it up for you, you know, you talk to me if anything needs changing and stuff like that, and I just make sure the event runs smoothly,” Hassett said.
The most impactful thing about helping students host events at the Student Center is watching students build relationships with one another, said Hassett. As he prepared to graduate, Hassett reflected on his time at ASU and shared advice for current Sun Devils.
Question: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
Answer: I guess what surprised me is the fact that there are so many people that know so many different things. Like, it seems like if you've got a question, it's always like, oh, I know someone who knows someone who is an expert in that and you go and talk to them and they know exactly what you're talking about. ... I never realized all those people were pretty much within arm's reach.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: I chose ASU because out of the state schools, I believe that they had the best engineering school. My brother also went here at the time. So that was a big deciding factor of staying with family. I just kind of grew up around ASU and knew.
My dad went to ASU; it was just kind of always one of those things where I just kind of felt like going to ASU growing up.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: That's a tough one.There are some classes that I really enjoyed. But there's Professor Jay Patel. I had a bunch of different classes with him. And a couple times he showed his schedule, and he had so many different classes. And you asked this guy a question. It seems like he had the answer for everything. He taught a bunch of mechanical engineering classes. The classes I took with him were structural mechanics and things like that. I also took computer-aided engineering with him. So just like a wide variety of engineering classes.
I guess he taught me to double check, like always double and triple check my answers with different sources and things like that. A lot of other professors are just like, oh, yeah, the book is fine. But he would be like, you know, especially if I had a question. He wouldn't just give me the answer and say that’s what the answer is. He’d tell me where I could go to find the answer. And then give me a different source. So I could not just get one view on things.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: You need to go to class, that’s a big one. Make sure you show up to class. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I feel like a lot of people are always feeling like, I don't want to be the guy who’s considered the dumb person who asked questions.
No one remembers, and 99% of the time, one or two other people have the same exact question. And they’re so thankful that you asked. So it’s like, you get to make friends by being the person who asked questions, because people are like, I’m going to talk to them outside of class so that they can ask the professor in class. So ask questions if you have questions.
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: Oh, that's a tough one. Well, I spent a lot of time in the Engineering Center, just doing homework and stuff like that, just because of the chairs and desks and things like that.
But there are so many like little spots that you can go and find at ASU that are not necessarily garden type things, but there are more trees and stuff than you’d expect, especially for like a college campus in the middle of a desert. You can just sit there and … just relax as long as it's not too hot, just kind of regain composure and stuff like that.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: $40 million? I guess I'd like to stick with solar and maybe start somewhere small here in the Valley and get like a test place set up where we have roads that have solar charging underneath it so that the cars charge as they drive. We could have maybe like a small new part of town or something that would have electric cars and stuff and that we’d have. They drive around and we would see basically how long it would sustain for and how much electricity and stuff that drew.