When Jonathan Joseph Washington ’22 arrived at the 2025 Explore program, he had one goal: network as much as possible. The Washington Alpha brother and Materials Science and Engineering student at the University of Washington wasn’t sure exactly what career path he wanted to pursue. He just knew he wanted to find out. 

What happened next is exactly why donors invest in Explore. 

During the program, Jonathan attended a presentation by Dee Bhawmik Rutgers ’12, a Phi Psi who works as an Account Manager and Sales Engineer at Schneider Electric. Dee’s story stopped Jonathan in his tracks. Here was an engineer who had discovered his real strength wasn’t in the technical work. It was in the people. Dee had built a decade-long career by leaning into his personality, and every word resonated with Jonathan. 

“I related to so much of what he said,” Jonathan recalled. “I love talking to people. I’ve had friends and coworkers tell me I should go into sales, and they were always surprised when I said I was an engineer.” 

Jonathan didn’t wait for the opportunity to come to him. After connecting briefly with Dee at the event, he tracked him down on Instagram, set up a call, and spent weeks following every thread that opened up. Conversations with the Seattle branch led to interviews in New York, and ultimately to what he describes as the best interview of his life in Dallas. 

He got the job. He’s moving to Texas in July, and he’s already connected with several Phi Psi brothers who will be living in Dallas when he arrives. 

“It was a surreal feeling,” Jonathan said. “It felt like all my hard work had paid off.” 

Jonathan came to Explore with an open mind and left with a career direction, a professional mentor, and a job offer, all rooted in the Phi Kappa Psi brotherhood. His story is a testament to what happens when talented young men are given the right room, the right people, and the right opportunity to discover what they’re capable of. 

That room exists because of you. 

Your support of the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation makes programs like Explore possible, and for brothers like Jonathan, it can change everything. 

Want to Hear Another Explore Story?

Jonathan’s experience is just one example of how Explore opens doors. In a recent organizational webinar, we invited both a recent Explore participant, Zach Woloff Clemson ’25, and Explore host, Justin Natalizio DePaul ‘13, to share their perspectives and answer questions about the program. Their conversation offers a firsthand look at the connections, mentorship, and career clarity that Explore provides. to our undergraduate members.