Alumni Who Inspire: Mike Snodgrass

This month's alumni feature is with Lane Department graduate Mike Snodgrass (WVU Illustration).

The Alumni Who Inspire! Program recognizes alumni for their dedication to their professions, the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources and West Virginia University. The program was launched in Fall 2023 as a monthly discussion board with Statler alumni.  

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

We connected with Mike Snodgrass this month, a proud 1990 graduate of the Lane Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at West Virginia University.   

Originally from Parkersburg, WV, Mike graduated from Parkersburg South High School in 1986. He currently lives in Purcellville, VA, with his wife, Dawn. Their two children have both pursued higher education in Virginia, with one currently attending the University of Virginia and the other having obtained both bachelor's and master's degrees from Virginia Tech.

Snodgrass shared valuable insights about his journey and the impact of his education, from his early years as a student to his current role as lead AI engineer at Google in Reston, VA. Snodgrass leads the customer engineering work for artificial intelligence for state and local government and higher education in the northeast.  

Q: Mike, it’s always a pleasure to welcome you back to the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources community! Can you share a bit about your background before attending WVU? 

A: Growing up in Parkersburg, I watched WVU football games on TV all the time—these are some of my earliest memories. As a result, I was subconsciously drawn to WVU, but I wasn't sure which college I wanted to attend. It was important to me to stay close to my friends and family while receiving a high-quality education.  

I had a strong foundation in math and sciences and when I discovered the programs offered by WVU and subsequently was accepted into the Honors Program, I knew I would have a great experience there. 

Q: How did you explore your intellectual and academic interests while at WVU/ Statler College? What activities were you involved with? 

A: In the late 80s, I tried to leverage electives and clubs to explore intellectual and academic interests. I joined the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as a way of learning more about the electrical engineering world. IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. I took electives in areas I might like to see if the initial interest stayed with me during the classes. I also talked to engineering students in other majors besides electrical to see what they liked about their major and what their interests were. I also asked professors for advice. 

Q: You visited us this fall. What did you think about the campus today? How did it inspire you to add to your previous intellectual and academic interests? 

A: I’ve had an amazing tour of Statler College this fall. There are SO many more avenues for students to explore their interests now, such as the Innovation Hub, robotics labs and many more! Can I be a student again please? 

Q: Thank you, Mike! Speaking of being a student, what were some of your most memorable experiences you had as a student at Statler? 

A: Many experiences at WVU have really stood the test of time. For example, the engineering college allowed students to work closely with professors to advance in their education.  I was one of the students selected to help a professor create a design book for students, focusing on advanced problem-solving and applications. This allowed me to see the work that the faculty does outside the classroom and understand its implications on how it could be applied in the real world to solve problems of social relevance.  Another memory is my first class in AI, which I took as a “fun” elective! 

Q: What was your first job after graduation?   

A: After college, I worked on building and implementing enterprise software systems for customers while living in the Washington D.C. area as well as New York City. I helped build an accounting system that the United Nations used for over 20 years! While most people might find that type of work boring, the details were actually really interesting, and the system allowed the UN to work more efficiently. Enterprise software systems were very challenging to build and implement, but I found “in the trenches” that I was developing my resourcefulness and creativity. I knew if I worked hard enough, I could solve a hard problem, or find the best answer that works for everyone, often in unique ways. I discovered I had a growth mindset! 

Since then, and before my tenure of over 5 years at Google, I have garnered experience at Microsoft, SAP, Informatica and other enterprise software companies as well as an MBA from Virginia Tech (1992)! 

In all of these experiences, I repeated this same pattern of resourcefulness, creativity and a growth mindset and it allowed me to take on more responsibility as my career progressed.  

Q: How did your education help prepare you for the illustrious career you pursued?  

A: The education I received at WVU helped prepare me for real-world problem-solving and communication.  For me, the combination of an excellent education in STEM and the ability to communicate effectively is a winning combination. The start I got in both areas was at Statler College.  These foundations were very important to my future career growth and lifelong learning. 

Q: You stayed connected with your alma mater and led several mentoring sessions for our Statler students in the past. What would you advise current students who are uncertain about their future careers? 

A: The job market can be tough, and I was afraid I would not find a job when I graduated. I learned how important networking can be. I would advise current students to network and reach out to people they don’t know and build relationships, learn what they do and solicit advice. For one thing, it’s interesting to learn what people actually do at their jobs. Is this a job you might also like or not? Secondly, you might find a potential lead for a job now or a future job. The whole process of inquiry is fun! 

In fact, I’ve seen lots of college students recently taking the initiative to find people on LinkedIn working in a field they’d like and who might have similar backgrounds and skills.  That’s advice I’d like to pass on to current students: model that behavior, find people in your future field and just ask to have a chat with them about their job.  You never know where that might lead… 

Q: Looking ahead, what are the 3 top tips that you would give to current students who want to follow in your footsteps? 

Develop a Growth Mindset.  Your basic abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work and learning. Your talents and skills are not fixed traits, but rather something you can improve upon over time. Focus on growth and improvement.  

Be Helpful and Positive. Do more than you are asked, not just the bare minimum to get something done.  Make other people’s jobs easier as a result of working with you. And focus on the positive aspects of your job, not the negative.  Get along with people. 

Communicate Well.  If you can communicate well (and this is both writing and speaking), you’ll be able to accomplish so many things you didn’t think were possible.  Seek opportunities to speak in public and challenge yourself to improve your communication skills.

Thank you, Mike, for taking the time to share your journey with us. Your story is a reminder that the value of an education extends far beyond the classroom and that the connections we make along the way can have a profound impact on our lives and careers!  

Like Snodgrass, there are so many Statler alumni here and around the world with amazing stories. Join us next month to learn more about our community members and their inspiring journeys; take a lesson from their success book and be the inspiring Mountaineer. Let’s Go!

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