Credentials | Alex Ayala

Degrees

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Middle Tennessee State University

Expected Graduation: May 2027

Pursuing an MBA alongside my engineering degree allows me to strengthen the leadership, strategic, and decision-making skills that complement technical work. The program emphasizes strategy, operations, finance, and organizational leadership, helping me understand how technical efforts scale within real organizations. By combining business education with engineering, I am developing the ability to evaluate tradeoffs, communicate across technical and non-technical teams, and contribute to decisions that balance performance, people, and long-term impact. This path supports my goal of working at the intersection of engineering execution and organizational leadership.

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BS Mechatronics Engineering

Middle Tennessee State University

Expected Graduation: May 2026

GPA: 3.16

Mechatronics Engineering integrates mechanical systems, electronics, controls, and software to design complete, intelligent systems. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, system-level thinking, and real-world problem solving. Through coursework and projects, I’ve gained experience with circuits, sensors, automation, control systems, and mechanical design, learning how hardware and software work together in practice. I chose mechatronics because it reflects how modern engineering problems are solved — at the intersection of multiple disciplines — and because I enjoy building systems that interact with the physical world.

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BS Professional Studies - International Organizational Management

Middle Tennessee State University

Graduated: December, 2024

This degree focuses on how organizations operate across cultures, industries, and global contexts. Coursework emphasized communication, leadership, organizational behavior, and professional collaboration. A key component was participation in the EESA Study Abroad program, where I worked with entrepreneurs in South Africa and later returned as a program coordinator. These experiences strengthened my ability to work across cultures, support teams, and adapt in complex environments. This background complements my engineering education by adding a people-centered, global perspective to problem-solving and leadership.

Certifications

Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP – Mechanical Design)

Dassault Systèmes

The CSWP certification validates advanced proficiency in parametric 3D modeling and mechanical design using SOLIDWORKS. It demonstrates the ability to create, modify, and manage complex parts and assemblies while maintaining proper design intent under changing requirements. Earning this certification reflects my ability to think through mechanical problems logically, build models that support iteration, and work efficiently within real engineering workflows. It also shows an understanding of how design decisions affect manufacturability, revisions, and collaboration — skills that are essential in professional mechanical and product development environments.

MATLAB Certified Associate

MathWorks

The MATLAB Certified Associate credential demonstrates foundational proficiency in using MATLAB for computation, data analysis, and problem solving. It covers writing scripts, working with arrays and matrices, visualizing data, and applying mathematical logic to engineering problems. This certification reflects my ability to translate equations and concepts into working code, analyze data programmatically, and support modeling or simulation tasks. It reinforces my comfort using computational tools to explore systems, validate ideas, and support engineering decisions in data-driven environments.

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Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel Expert (MO-201)

Microsoft

The Excel Expert certification validates advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, data analysis tools, structured workbooks, and automation-oriented workflows. It emphasizes accuracy, efficiency, and clarity when working with large or dynamic datasets. This certification demonstrates my ability to organize information, analyze data, and build reliable tools that support decision-making. It signals to employers that I can move beyond basic spreadsheets to create structured, scalable solutions commonly used in engineering, operations, and business environments.