Dayton Engineer

By Jacob Mantle ’23

“Leave it better than you found it.” This motto has inspired Shaq Tensley ’15 to give back to UD as a volunteer, and it has served him in his global travels. 

After completing his football career and graduating from UD with a mechanical engineering degree, Tensley transitioned to the company he interned with for three rotations, Eaton, a power management company. 

He discovered Eaton at UD’s career fair. Despite the company not being familiar and not having any resumes left, Tensley said his encounter was the most comfortable conversation he’s had at a career fair.

“I went in wanting to talk to all the big companies. As I was walking out, the Eaton recruiter, Dave Barrett ’85, just pulled me aside, and we had a 30-minute, organic conversation,” Tensley said.

After working his way up to area sales manager, Tensley explored an opportunity in a different part of the electrical industry. He now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, as a business development manager for Electrical Equipment Company and is completing his MBA at Duke University.

 “One of the main things I wanted to do was get experiences that could diversify my background,” Tensley said.

Outside of work, he is a world traveler. From dinner in the clouds in Dubai, to hang gliding in Brazil, Tensley makes an effort to travel internationally every year. 

“I got my passport in 2016 and made it a point to have at least one international trip every year,” Tensley said. “So, I’ve been fortunate and blessed.”

He continues to diversify his background by volunteering. Tensley is inspired to give back because of the impact UD made on him.

“My time at UD was made possible by volunteers, donations and different resources that were available to help me excel and be successful after UD,” Tensley said. “While I loved my time at UD, it wasn’t perfect.” 

Tensley gives back by providing guidance, support and enthusiasm to current Flyers, alumni, University administrators and prospective students as a day10 committee member and as a Flyer Champion volunteer. He attributes his Flyers forever spirit to paying it forward and driving change.

“For me, helping drive the change that you want to see is important,” he said.

He credits his achievements and how he carries himself to what he learned at UD: the importance of preparation, time management and community.

“I look back at some of my best friends right now, and they are from UD because of that sense of community. I try to create or replicate that wherever I go,” Tensley said. “Whatever setting I’m in, I ask how can I find porch mates, or how can we create a community, because finding those goes a long way.”

Through his motto, Tensley is leaving each place a little more like UD — for the next traveler and the next neighbor.