Captivated by cubism, color, construction, and deconstruction, Rokheyatou “Roxie” Faye is the first Gator to double major in art and mechanical engineering at the University of Florida.
Her creative and technical focus epitomizes how UF students are diversifying their academic pursuits to get a leg up in the competitive job market. At a university that encourages cross-disciplinary academics, this pathway also helps students approach scientific challenges with creative perspectives, leading them to find innovative, real-world solutions.
“I was always taking things apart and putting them back together [when I was younger],” said Faye, a third-year student, who started out at UF as an engineering student. “I liked playing with LEGOs and deconstructing my Barbies, making a mess. I thought it was fascinating. It made my parents upset, but I found it interesting how you could make and manipulate things.”
But it wasn’t until Faye’s sophomore year in college that she brought the creativity component into her studies. During a study abroad summer program in France, while in the cathedral-laden Lille, she admired the art on the ancient museum walls and set a new career course for herself – adding art as a second major.