Matt Paxton

Civil engineering major Matt Paxton is designing bridges — and his future — at UMass Lowell.

As president of UML’s Steel Bridge Team, Paxton has paired student leadership with an internship at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), gaining hands-on experience in large-scale infrastructure planning.

Working under civil engineering alum Kevin McGrath ’20 in MassDOT’s rail and transit division, Paxton supported rail yard rehabilitation projects, reviewed contractor submissions and contributed research tied to long-term planning for the state’s rail system. One of his proudest contributions involved research supporting the state’s 2025 rail plan, where he gathered data on performance, sustainability and system needs to help inform future investment decisions.

“I wasn’t just on AutoCAD doing design. I saw the financial side and the project management behind engineering,” says Paxton, whose summer internship continued into the fall of his junior year in a part-time hybrid role.  

Working alongside a UML alum reinforced what drew him to the university.

“I knew UMass Lowell had a strong reputation for engineering, but I didn’t realize how significant that was at first,” he says. “Being here and going to co-op fairs, I learned that the professional connection we have is such an advantage.” 

Paxton’s interest in hands-on engineering started well before college. He attended Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School, where he worked in a carpentry shop and spent time on construction sites before enrolling at UML.

“I was building stuff and swinging hammers at a young age,” Paxton says. “College can be an adjustment for kids coming from a blue-collar background like mine. It’s a heavy academic workload with a lot of books and papers.”

Finding the Steel Bridge Team made that transition easier. When he joined as a freshman, the team was rebuilding after the pandemic. After stepping into the presidency as a sophomore, he helped reorganize the executive board and expand recruitment, growing membership from about 10 students to more than 50.

“When I came here and found a program where you can get your hands dirty and do technical projects, I was instantly sold,” he says.

Each year, the team designs and builds a model steel bridge for regional competition through the American Society of Civil Engineers. As president, Paxton coordinates design schedules, works with a local fabrication partner and leads team practices as members prepare for competition.

“I’ve talked about Steel Bridge in three different job interviews, and it’s been a selling point every time,” he says. “It shows you’re applying what you learn in class.”

Paxton also works as an office assistant in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, helping organize departmental events and presenting updates to the alumni advisory board. 

After graduation, Paxton plans to pursue construction or structural engineering in a role that keeps him connected to job sites as well as design work. His time at UMass Lowell has confirmed that he chose the right place to build that future.

“My home is here,” Paxton says. “Everything that I’ve established here, I’m definitely going to carry for the rest of my life professionally.”