Student Profiles

Name: Maritza Johnson
Department: Ph.D. Computer Science
Hometown: Imperial Beach, CA

Maritza Johnson began college as a math major when she was an undergraduate at the University of San Diego. She soon found her true interests lay elsewhere.


 

Name: Lisandro Quiñones
Department: M.S. Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Lisandro Quiñones asked an engineering professor a question not long ago, and the answer changed the course of his life.


 

Name: Jonathan Kyle
Department: Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Rochester, New York

Jonathan Kyle discovered his knack for engineering as a young child, when his parents bought him a toy roller coaster set – unassembled in a box, of course.

“It took me months to construct,” says Kyle.


Name: Jasmine Bridges
Department: M.S. Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Tacoma, Washington

Jasmine Bridges, MS’10 Mechanical Engineering, was inspired to become an astronaut by one of the worst disasters in the history of the U.S. space program.

 

Name: Nina Tandon
Department: Ph.D. '10 Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Roosevelt Island, New York City

When Nina Tandon was three years old, her father taught her how to pronounce orthopedic surgeon for the amusement of dinner guests. Fortunately for her and SEAS, Nina grew up to become an engineer instead.

 

Name: Mitchell Morris
Department: Ph.D. '10 Computer Science
Hometown: Harrison, New York

Mitchell Morris decided he wanted to become an engineer by using the same kind of methodical approach engineers use in their work. 

 

Name: Rob van Haaren
Department: MS '09 Earth and Environmental Engineering
Hometown: Puiflijk, The Netherlands

Studying for his masters degree in earth and environmental engineering is something more than simply academic for Rob van Haaren. 

It is a journey. 

 

Name: Kira Schiavello
Department: MS '09 Civil Engineering
Hometown: Saddle River, New Jersey

In her first months on campus, Kira Schiavello is already scaling lofty pinnacles. Her climb started with a chance conversation with a professor last fall.