Research and Development Center

PAUL

Hometown:
Altamont, Illinois
Altamont Community High School

Nickname:
Tall Paul

Major:
Department of Speech Communication master’s degree program called “organizational communication and behavior.”

Favorite place to study:
Goodwin St. Espresso Royale café on Wednesday mornings ($2 lattes, any size).

Favorite study break:
Going for a run around Champaign-Urbana … or hanging out with friends on the Quad on a warm, sunny day.

Favorite food around campus:
Papa Del’s deep dish pizza, with my preference being sausage and pepperoni.

What brought you to the State Farm Research and Development Center?
I first heard about the Research and Development Center through one of my professors … and was drawn to the Research and Development Center because it provided a great opportunity to gain real work experience … I was also attracted to the unique opportunity to make an impact on high-level business decisions through my research contributions.

Favorite thing about being an intern here:
The wide variety of projects we encounter and the amount of impact we can make to inform important decisions in the Company. 

What I wish I'd known about college life before coming to the U of I:
That the relationships you develop along the way will truly be what makes the experience for you … how you invest in those relationships will make a greater impact on you than what you study or what degree you receive.

One word to describe me:
Hopeful

In my wildest dreams, after graduation I'll be:
Starting a job that I love, working with people who share similar passions and interests, and doing something that makes a real difference … I will also be marrying the woman of my dreams – which is coming true – as I look forward with my future wife to our upcoming wedding.