The Schletzbaum Family

It’s one thing to follow in one parent’s footsteps to WPI. But Karl Schletzbaum ’25 has the distinct pleasure of following in both parents’ footsteps. Like his father, Roy Schletzbaum ’95, Karl chose WPI for its strong engineering program and its competitive athletic program. The first-year mechanical engineering major recently shared how happy he is to be a WPI student. 

“I am so glad that I chose WPI; I have met so many great people in my classes, on the soccer team, and through other activities around campus,” he says. “I’m glad I can follow in my mother’s and father’s footsteps to WPI; they’ve been such great role models for me, and I hope I make them proud.”

As a senior project manager with Jacobs Engineering, Roy manages a wide variety of projects, predominantly for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). Specializing in highly complex projects that require intensive multidisciplinary coordination, he attributes his ability to assemble successful teams, work effectively in teams, and complete jobs on time to the project-based education and wrestling team experience he gained at WPI. 

“When working on projects like the rehabilitation of the Longfellow Bridge or upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems of the Sumner and Callahan Tunnels in Boston, my experience with WPI’s short, high-pressure terms was great preparation for my professional career—as we often work on short deadlines and need to be able to complete projects accurately and on time.” When asked how the senior Schletzbaum felt about his son Karl attending WPI, he says: “I am proud of Karl’s achievements and am fully supportive of his academic and athletic goals. I just want him to continue the success he’s had during his youth and continue to grow into a successful adult.”

Lisa (Cigal) Schletzbaum ’95 works for the MassDOT as an assistant state traffic engineer. She recalls attending a two-week Frontiers program at WPI following her junior year in high school and knowing at that time WPI was where she wanted to call home after graduation. She applied early decision and says she “… never looked back. Almost 30 years after my first traffic engineering class, I am still loving my career in traffic and safety engineering.”

Like her husband, Lisa also attributes her WPI education, in part, to her ability to help develop roadway improvements and increase roadway safety for all. Sharing how the project-based work at WPI has served her well in her career, she says, “Oftentimes, safety improvements compete with environmental concerns—like keeping mature trees or wetlands, right-of-way constraints, utility conflicts—but there isn’t an opportunity to include it all. WPI taught me how to work as a team member to determine what solution is best for the challenge.”

“I’m filled with pride having Karl enrolled at WPI. It is special for me and Roy to have this bond with him. His journey, while similar to ours, will be uniquely his own, and we are enjoying watching him grow and succeed.”