Anushiya Shiley Gomes is an international graduate student from Sri Lanka who loves reading business news and solving math problems. She received an undergraduate degree in business administration, international business from Wichita State in 2015.

She decided to pursue a master’s in industrial and manufacturing engineering with a focus on quality and reliability, an educational move that allows her to do what she enjoys. She is set to complete her degree in spring 2018.

This past summer she used her talent for gathering data and problem solving to determine manufacturing processes, staff requirements and production standards for Spirit AeroSystems as a supply chain logistics engineer. She also recommended methods for improving the utilization of utilities, materials and staff.

Gomes discovered this internship opportunity while browsing through job openings on Spirit’s website. She decided to apply and is grateful for all the unique experiences she got as an employee.

“Plant and hangar tours are just mind-blowing,” said Gomes. “I got the opportunity to be a part of and work on huge projects for the company.”

The work experience Gomes gained from her time at Spirit allowed her to learn about things she wouldn’t have found in a classroom. Her internship gave her opportunities to network with influential professionals, something Gomes found to have great value.

“The contacts you make today are critical in the future,” said Gomes. “Internships are a great learning experience and they increase the likelihood of landing a full-time job after graduation. Remember, jobs don’t come to you. You go to them.