September 28, 2018 | UHCL Staff
Since he was a child growing up in Morocco, Youssef Hamidi was fascinated with mechanical engineering. He knew that if he learned more about it, he could help make life better for people. Now as a new assistant professor of mechanical engineering at University of Houston-Clear Lake, he’s using his extensive background in industry and higher education to teach future mechanical engineers to take on any challenge.
“After I graduated with my undergraduate and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Ecole Mohammadia d’Ingénieurs in Rabat, Morocco, I went into industry. By the time I was 24, I was at the top of my game,” Hamidi said. “But there was something missing. The challenges weren’t there anymore. I was thinking about becoming a teacher since both my parents were teachers. As the oldest of five kids, I was always explaining things to my siblings. So I think I developed a passion for teaching from a young age.”
Feeling he had accomplished all he could in his career in industry, he decided to come to the U.S. to pursue his doctorate. “I finished my doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma in Norman in 2004,” he said. “I returned to Morocco and became a professor.”
After marrying and having children in Morocco, Hamidi decided he would look into other options for educating his kids. “I needed to find somewhere else to go,” he said. “I responded to a LinkedIn message about an offer in Saudi Arabia. I was considering another offer in Dubai, when my professor from O.U. gave me the offer to become a senior research associate.”
Hamidi packed up his family and moved to Norman. “I always thought of America as the land of opportunity,” he said. “In America, diversity is celebrated. I knew there would be better options for my kids in this country.”
The Hamidis stayed in Norman for over two years while he looked for a permanent position. “I saw the position posted at UH-Clear Lake, and I came to interview,” he said. “I liked it so much. It’s a beautiful place. The deer are amazing! And the proximity to NASA is a huge plus.”
Teaching in the new Mechanical Engineering program in UHCL’s newly opened STEM and Classroom Building, said Hamidi, was another great feature of the job offer. “I’m always up for challenges,” he said. “In this building, we can teach mechanical engineering with a hands-on approach, which is not a given. Many universities are more theoretical. Here, we are lecture-to-lab. The students experience what we’re teaching. The setting makes teaching more efficient, and students can learn more during class time.”
Hamidi said that what the mechanical engineering program can offer is something very competitive. “Mechanical engineering is in demand by most companies, especially in this area,” he said. “There are no limits. It’s a very exciting time to be at UHCL.”
For more information about UHCL’s Mechanical Engineering program, visit www.uhcl.edu/academics/degrees/mechanical-engineering-bs.
