Serving as UIF Since: Spring 2017
School: Western Michigan University
What he does now: Partner and Firmware Engineer at Velocity Research
What that means: Business partner helping run the business as well as firmware engineer helping design and improve products

Contact him about: Student run Makerspaces, Makerspace startups, design thinking workshops, recruiting new fellows at your school, emotional support, or literally anything to do with food
Email: nathan.lawarre@gmail.com
Phone: (616) 902-8802

Nathan LaWarre is a University Innovation Fellow and graduate from Western Michigan University. He graduated in December of 2019 with a Bachelors degree in computer engineering with a minors in computer science, math, and environmental studies and sustainability. Nathan is originally from Grand Rapids, MI, and still lives in the area. He currently works as a partner and firmware design engineer at Velocity Research. As a partner he helps with the day to day of running a new business. As a firmware engineer he designs and creates embedded software for many different projects.

In his college days, Nathan was an active member of the sunseeker team at WMU which is a team of students that come together to build a solar powered race car. Nathan was also on the executive board and founder of the Innovation club at WMU. The innovation club strives to get students excited about learning and giving hands on experience. They have created a makerspace for students as well as a fund that alleviates the financial burden of projects for students. He has helped to create a design thinking workshop for incoming freshman that which is taught in many entry level courses. Nathan was also apart of the math club and financial board at his church. He volunteered with Disabled Students Services on his campus, driving physically disabled students from class to class. He also volunteered with Drive Safe Kalamazoo, giving safe rides home to students on the weekends. Nathan was also a member of the Lee Honors College at WMU. Outside of work he enjoys creating lasting relationships, being with friends, and experimenting with microcontrollers. Nathan has two younger sisters in high school, six dogs, and two cats, which were all left at his parents house (thank goodness).

Nathan has always been very passionate about leadership and communication. He strives to merge these passions with his interest in helping others to better the lives of people around the world through technology. Nathan, while in school, strived to do this through the Innovation Club on his campus, holding speakers, seminars, workshops, and pop-up classes. He now is bringing these passions into his work space in anyway he can. UIF has been a key part in furthering his goals.