The Story & Achievements
As Co-President and Chassis Team Lead of Villanova's Baja SAE team, I helped guide our organization in designing, building, and racing a rugged off-road vehicle. My leadership focused on balancing team management with heavy involvement in the core engineering of the car, culminating in our competition at Baja SAE 2026 in New York.
A major part of my contribution was leading the Chassis Sub-team. I guided the team through multiple rigorous design iterations, constantly optimizing the chassis to achieve the best possible strength-to-weight ratio. Designing the chassis wasn't just about the frame itself—I had to approach the car holistically, ensuring seamless integration by planning out precise mounting locations and structural considerations for the engine, drivetrain, and suspension systems. Once the design was finalized, I was heavily involved in physically manufacturing the chassis.
On the administrative side, my co-presidency involved securing crucial sponsorships to fund our operations and materials. I also ran hands-on SolidWorks workshops, helping newer members develop the essential CAD skills needed to contribute to the vehicle's design and engineering.
Key Engineering & Leadership Roles
- Chassis Design & Manufacturing: Led the Chassis Sub-team through extensive design iterations, optimizing strength and weight while ensuring perfect integration with drivetrain, engine, and suspension components. I also took a hands-on role in manufacturing the final frame.
- Team Leadership & Education: Hosted SolidWorks workshops to elevate the technical capabilities of the team, fostering a collaborative environment where members could actively contribute to the vehicle's design.
- Sponsorships & Management: Secured necessary funding by acquiring sponsors, directly enabling the fabrication and development of our competition vehicle.
- Competition: Successfully brought our engineering efforts to the track, competing alongside my team at Baja SAE 2026 NY.
