Whether he’s working on a deep-water offshore development in the Gulf of Mexico or helping Missouri S&T produce top-notch engineers, Mike McEvilly, CE’80, MS EMgt’81, is a natural leader. McEvilly, project director of Hess Corp.’s Tubular Bells Development, supports Missouri S&T as a dedicated member of the Academy of Engineering Management, Academy of Civil Engineers and the Miner Alumni Association board of directors.

Leading by example

McEvilly chairs the Academy of Civil Engineers’ Vision 2020, a strategy to help the civil, architectural and environmental engineering programs at S&T produce “street-ready” and “career-ready” engineers by enhancing the department’s programs, recruiting top students, promoting interdisciplinary teaching and research, and nurturing knowledge creation and technology transfer.

“There is a basic desire to set the stage to attract upper-tier potential students, and allow them to enjoy their time at S&T as well,” explains McEvilly. “We want to prepare students, not just for their first day in industry, but for the first five or 10 years of work.”

Team spirit

Leadership has been a recurring theme throughout McEvilly’s university involvement. “If you are going to be a member of an organization, you might as well give it your all,” says McEvilly. As a student, he was president of three different organizations: Chi Epsilon, Intercollegiate Knights and Blue Key Honor Society. Today, he chairs the Strengthening Campus Relations Committee of the alumni association board of directors.

Off the clock

McEvilly, a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon, met his wife, Mary Ellen (Hilton), EMgt’81, at a fraternity function. The couple enjoys living only five minutes away from their first grandson, Timothy, in Spring, Texas, where McEvilly is an active member of his church. He enjoys hunting, fishing and shooting sporting clays.

Giving back

McEvilly, a member of the Order of the Golden Shillelagh donor recognition society, recently made a naming donation to the Hasselmann Alumni House. “This is a great opportunity to assist in moving the project forward,” says McEvilly. “Donating one’s time and resources is rewarding and hopefully sends a message to other alumni, showing commitment for the future.”