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Former Southwest sociology professor becomes student of mechatronics

By Chris Caldwell 

By Chris Caldwell Being an adult learner isn’t always an easy path to follow. Creating time for family, work and a social life while attending college can be a challenging proposition. Unless you are Julie Green-Nesbit, a life-long learner with a never-ending passion for education and desire to stay relevant. Green-Nesbit is a former sociology professor at Southwest (2010-2012) who is currently working on an A.A.S. in mechatronics technology. The 55-year-old student credits the multinational conglomerate FedEx for peaking her interest in mechatronics. “I wanted to learn a career that would help the next generation,” she said. “People my age or older aren’t necessarily into technology. Working for FedEx as a handler, I go to work and I watch the robots all throughout the facility doing different jobs. I noticed each robot had its own heartbeat, its own personality, and I was like wow this is very intriguing.” Choosing Southwest to study mechatronics was an easy choice for Green-Nesbit. “I taught here 10 years ago and throughout my tenure developed wonderful professional relationships and friendships. I love everything about Southwest. I know the campus, I know the quality of education and I know of its family-oriented dynamic. It was an easy choice for me to make,” she said. Green-Nesbitt said she is up to the challenge of upskilling her new-found career. “I’m an educator and small business trainer by trade, so I’m going into something I really don’t have knowledge of but I’m doing this because it drives me to keep my mind moving because I love to think and I want to further myself by being as marketable as I can,” Green-Nesbitt said. “As an educator, I also see how Southwest keeps its curriculum workforce-relevant and the students ready for the workforce. What you put into the community is what you will get out of it.” Nesbit is optimistic about venturing into the future of robotics and the impact her training will have on her career at FedEx. She plans to continue working at FedEx after earning her associate’s degree, expanding her role within the company to that of a trainer where she hopes to travel nationally and internationally helping others to advance their skills. For information about Southwest’s mechatronic program, visit Mechatronics Program.
Mechatronics student Julie Green-Nesbit

Being an adult learner isn’t always an easy path to follow. Creating time for family, work and a social life while attending college can be a challenging proposition. Unless you are Julie Green-Nesbit, a life-long learner with a never-ending passion for education and desire to stay relevant. 

Green-Nesbit is a former sociology professor at Southwest (2010-2012) who is currently working on an A.A.S. in mechatronics technology. The 55-year-old student credits the multinational conglomerate FedEx for peaking her interest in mechatronics. 

“I wanted to learn a career that would help the next generation,” she said. “People my age or older aren’t necessarily into technology. Working for FedEx as a handler, I go to work and I watch the robots all throughout the facility doing different jobs. I noticed each robot had its own heartbeat, its own personality, and I was like wow this is very intriguing.” 

Choosing Southwest to study mechatronics was an easy choice for Green-Nesbit. “I taught here 10 years ago and throughout my tenure I developed wonderful professional relationships and friendships. I love everything about Southwest. I know the campus, I know the quality of education and I know of its family-oriented dynamic. It was an easy choice for me to make,” she said. 

Green-Nesbitt said she is up to the challenge of upskilling her new-found career. “I’m an educator and small business trainer by trade, so I’m going into something I really don’t have knowledge of but I’m doing this because it drives me to keep my mind moving because I love to think and I want to further myself by being as marketable as I can,” Green-Nesbitt said. “As an educator, I also see how Southwest keeps its curriculum workforce-relevant and the students ready for the workforce. What you put into the community is what you will get out of it.”

Nesbit is optimistic about venturing into the future of robotics and the impact her training will have on her career at FedEx. She plans to continue working at FedEx after earning her associate’s degree, expanding her role within the company to that of a trainer where she hopes to travel nationally and internationally helping others to advance their skills. 

For information about Southwest’s mechatronic program, visit Mechatronics Program.