Master of science in power systems management
Vincent O’Connell has spent nearly two decades in the energy industry in a variety of positions including distributed energy resource engineer and electrical engineer. Currently, he is a senior electrical engineer at Holyoke Gas & Electric in Massachusetts. “My responsibilities include supervision, project management, electric distribution design engineering and operations, distributed generation interconnections, and metering. I also oversee preventative maintenance programs, procurement, and various transmission and substation activities,” he said.
He was aware of the EPCE-sponsored online programs through Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) from his previous employer, and knew he always wanted to earn his master’s degree. “Working for a municipal utility means wearing a lot of different hats and handling a wide range of responsibilities. This program covers topics that directly apply to my role as an electrical engineer, making it a great fit for expanding my knowledge and growing both as an engineer and supervisor,” Vin said. He added, “The power systems program at WPI stood out because it’s specifically designed for the electric utility industry—something most universities don’t offer. It’s rare to find a program with courses focused on utility-based activities and functions.”
This was Vincent’s first experience with online education, as commuting an hour to campus every day after work wasn’t feasible or practical. He noted it was a bit of an adjustment at first: “Since everything was remote—from team meetings to office hours with professors—I had to get acclimated to online learning, but once I started working with other students on projects, I was able to build some level of collaboration, and that made a big difference.”
Vincent has seen how the program has benefited his career in multiple ways, saying, “This program provided a more in-depth understanding of certain power system concepts that I had minimal experience with before. The program also helped me to adjust to a more managerial role at my company. The variety of courses gave me valuable insight into areas I wouldn’t have explored otherwise. It also deepened my understanding of topics I thought I was already familiar with, like finance, project management, and transmission systems.”