USU Product Development Grad Pursues His Career With Passion  

Born and raised in Alpine, Utah, Connor Nichols developed a passion for building and creating at a young age.

“Throughout my childhood, I loved to build things, take things apart, anything that was creative in the sense of building,” he said.

Like many incoming freshmen, Nichols enrolled at Utah State University as an exploratory major. But that changed during his sophomore year when he discovered the product development program and the metal factory, where he spent countless hours experimenting and learning.

“The program is a perfect mix of design, fabrication, and machining,” said Nichols. “It wrapped all my hobbies together.”

His passion for hands-on projects helped him excel in a class taught by Professional Practice Professor Andrew Deceuster, who found Nichols to be an inquisitive and hardworking student. 

“He really liked knowing how the machines worked, how to use them, and how to design products around those machines,” Deceuster said. “He would come in every so often, and we would make something new in the lab.”

Through dedication and Deceuster’s support, Nichols became a teacher’s assistant. He answered questions, helped students to run equipment during labs, and assisted the professor during class. He also gained access to the lab and tools for personal projects. The opportunity allowed Nichols to explore his own creativity and build connections with faculty.

“Networking through the program,” said Nichols, “I was able to receive so much more than I feel like the degree offered.” 

Nichols has since graduated, and he now designs custom trade show booths. He utilizes his skills in 3D modeling and prototyping and finds the work fun and rewarding. Prior to his new position, he designed archery releases for a company in Logan, both during and after his studies.

When asked if he had any advice for USU students, Nichols recommended putting in extra work to demonstrate commitment and earn faculty attention.

“One thing I realized is that professors have so many students to teach,” he said, “but if you go out of your way to put in the time and learn more of what you want, the professors are willing to go out of their way to tend to those extra needs.”

Deceuster agreed.

“You're never gonna have access to anything if a professor doesn't know who you are,” he said Your professors know people in industry, they know about internship opportunities, and they know jobs.”