Finding a new field: from the gridiron to Gigafactories how a mentor changed Antonio Samuel’s path to success

Antonio Samuel, ‘10, had his sights set on a career in the NFL when he arrived at The University of Akron (UA), ready to dominate the football field and study business management. But the relationships he developed at UA would ultimately lead him in an unexpected direction.

Finding a New Field

After his first semester as a business major, Samuel, a standout football recruit from Cleveland’s John F. Kennedy High School, shared with his academic advisor that the only class he enjoyed was his Calculus for Business course. Upon learning about Samuel’s love for math, his advisor encouraged him to explore an engineering degree.

“I didn’t even know what engineering was,” he admitted. Despite his uncertainty, his natural interests in math and technology led him to switch his major to electrical engineering.This new degree path, along with a football injury and a serendipitous meeting with Dr. Julie Zhao, who was a graduate student at UA and is now assistant dean in the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, changed the course of Samuel’s future.

A Mentor’s Impact

At the end of his second semester, Samuel received an email celebrating his strong academic performance and an invitation to meet with Zhao and Dr. Paul Lam, the College of Engineering’s former dean of undergraduate studies. The pair urged Samuel to consider co-ops or research opportunities.

The dream of football stardom was still driving him, but with Lam’s encouragement and Zhao’s guidance, he pursued many academic opportunities provided by UA.

“Julie helped me see a future beyond football,” Samuel recalled. “She became my informal mentor. I leaned on her for advice about co-ops, research and even my first job offer. Before meeting her, I was planning to transfer to a Division II school to continue my football career. I don’t even know if they had an engineering program.

Becoming a Leader

With Zhao’s encouragement, Samuel blossomed into a leader on campus. He joined student organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and served in student government. These experiences helped him develop the professional skills he would need to thrive in his career.

“Students like Antonio have helped me grow as an educator by showing me the impact of simple encouragement and the power of seeing potential in others,” said Zhao.

Leading at Tesla and Giving Back

Today, Samuel oversees operations and engineering at Tesla’s Buffalo Gigafactory, where his team manufactures solar roofs, superchargers and residential energy solutions. He’s also giving back to the community that shaped him. He recently visited UA to participate in the annual Co-op and Career Fair and to meet and share advice with current students.

Looking back, Samuel reflects on how meeting the right person at the right time led him to become a leader at one of the most innovative companies in the world.

“That chance meeting with Julie gave me a way to view my life outside of football. It changed everything.”

By Sarah Steidl '03