Engineering technology graduate a standout in the quality industry

Written by: 
Alyssa Yancey

While working on her degree in electronics engineering technology, Nergis Soylemez-Sayed ('06) initially didn't consider quality engineering as a career. The field uses management strategies to improve efficiencies and increase productivity of organizations.
"I didn't know that quality engineering was a field until the faculty at UNT helped me get an internship as a quality assurance engineer intern with Thermadyne," Soylemez-Sayed says.
She began the internship with the Denton-based global manufacturer and marketer of metal welding and cutting products her senior year and discovered that she enjoyed the unique mix of engineering, business and statistics. She stayed on full-time with Thermadyne, where she eventually worked her way up to continuous improvement leader. Last fall, she was named one of the "40 New Voices of Quality" by the American Society for Quality, which recognizes individuals under the age of 40 who represent the best of a new generation of quality professionals.
Early this year, Soylemez-Sayed, who holds several industry certifications including Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt, was hired by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. An operational and clinical excellence leader, she works with nursing managers in the medical and surgical department to improve productivity and patient satisfaction.
"I like health care because I like to help people," says Soylemez-Sayed. "We are all patients at some point in our lives, and we expect exceptional care."
Soylemez-Sayed met her husband, Harris ('03, '05 M.B.A.), at UNT. Originally from Turkey, she transferred here from a college in Michigan to be closer to her sister, Guliz ('04 M.S.), who had moved from Turkey to earn a master's degree at UNT.
Soylemez-Sayed, who now chairs the Recent Graduate Advisory Board of the College of Engineering, says she received support from her mentors in the college, including Leticia Anaya, senior lecturer in engineering technology, who helped her get the internship, and Vijay Vaidyanathan, associate dean.
"All the faculty were very supportive and helpful," she says. "UNT has been a big part of our lives."

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