Different Paths Led Chris ’10 and Lillian ’11 Jeznach to Each Other

WPI has long offered students additional value beyond the world-class education they earn at the university, but the unexpected value of finding your future spouse is by far one of the more life-changing benefits of time spent on The Hill. Chris Jeznach ’10 and Lillian (Clark) Jeznach ’11 are one of many examples of WPI couples.

Chris, who majored in mechanical engineering and minored in business, is currently a senior director of product marketing with software company aPriori Technologies. And Lillian, who majored in environmental engineering and minored in music, is an associate professor of environmental engineering at Roger Williams University (RWU) in Bristol, R.I.

While the couple took very different paths to WPI, both describe meaningful and impactful university experiences that helped form them as individuals and as a couple.

“I always liked math and science and wanted to set myself up with a challenging and successful career path. One of my high school math teachers suggested looking into engineering as a career path and mentioned WPI. When I went to tour the WPI campus for the first time it just felt right; the students were happy, the campus seemed cozy, and the project-based approach was unique,” says Chris, adding that he was happy he chose to attend. “Some of my fondest memories and closest friends were made through the extracurricular activities I was involved with.”

Acknowledging the vital role WPI played in his career, he says, “I’ve always enjoyed being in business-generating and customer-facing roles, so product marketing was an area I sought out for my career. WPI’s blend of mechanical engineering and business was a great combination that helped prepare me for the marketing, sales, and product strategy-type roles with manufacturing and tech firms. Ultimately, the engineering knowledge and leadership skills I learned at WPI helped me succeed—first at SPIROL and then at Sensata Technologies as a leader in product marketing.”

As a trumpeter, Lillian found WPI through music. She wanted to earn a STEM degree, but she also wanted to play music in a strong university music program. Growing up, she attended rehearsals and concerts in Alden Memorial Hall with her musician parents and other local Worcester musicians and engineers. In high school, she joined the WPI musicians on a trip abroad, and the experience solidified her choice to attend WPI to study both engineering and music.

“When I started at WPI, I was unsure what STEM field I was interested in, but after an upperclass student suggested I take Introduction to Environmental Engineering, I was hooked. My current research at RWU focuses on the analysis of water quality and quantity in the natural and built environments. In addition to my faculty position at RWU, I do some part-time hydrology work with the U.S. Geological Survey.”

WPI’s project-based learning curriculum and Interactive Qualifying Project prepared Lillian for more than just her varied professional roles. “At WPI, I had to learn how to adapt my skills to a new environment with teammates of different disciplines, and those experiences inspired me to pursue a career not only in environmental engineering, but specifically in undergraduate engineering education.”

Like Chris, Lillian also acknowledges the valuable role WPI played in her career. “My WPI education not only taught me the technical skills I needed for my career, but also gave me skills like project and team management, leadership, and how to think creatively during the design process through the project-based curriculum.”

With thriving careers, the couple shows gratitude to their alma mater by giving back to the university through donor philanthropy, giving annually since 2010. “WPI has a community of faculty and students like no other and it will always feel like home. I loved my time at WPI—the education I received, the people I met,” says Lillian. “And it feels right to pay it forward so that other students can have the same experience. The world needs more WPI engineers!”