Donor Spotlight: James Loughlin ’11, MS ’12, and Jaimelee Beltrami ’12

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James Loughlin ’11, MS ’12, and Jaimelee Beltrami ’12 had an “amazing experience” at Binghamton University and the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. Earning their degrees in mechanical engineering led to their careers at Amazon today.

He’s an operations engineer, working with vendors on installation and qualification for conveyance and sortation systems at new fulfillment centers across the country. She’s in maintenance and facilities management, keeping that equipment running smoothly so packages continue to roll out to customers.

The couple, who now reside in Old Tappan, N.J., hadn’t considered making a gift to Watson until they saw a notice in the Watson Review magazine about the college’s tile campaign. The idea of being a permanent part of the Engineering Building — a place where they had spent so much of their time as undergraduates — appealed to them.

“We felt like it was something that we were in a position financially to be able to do, and we really wanted to do it,” Beltrami says. “Binghamton gave us the opportunities that we have now.”

They are grateful for the top-notch education and faculty during their time at Watson, but also for the many friends they made during that time, as well as meeting each other.

“There are a lot of little memories, such as working through all the projects and the hours studying together in the library — making it a game and having fun with it,” Loughlin says. “We created those bonds with the friends that we still have today.”

Loughlin and Beltrami recently stopped in Binghamton on their way to Buffalo and visited their newly installed tile, snapping some photos with their young daughter Madison. Maybe someday she’ll be a Bearcat, too — but for now, they’re happy to help Watson grow and thrive.

“We love being able to give back,” Loughlin says. “Hopefully we inspire future students to have the same kind of experience we did, to have the same joy from going to school and to be on the same path to a successful career.”