Category Archives: Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Saketh Kamatham

Saketh Kamatham

Saketh is a Spring 2023 graduate who is one of our amazing speakers at this semester’s graduation celebration! He has been involved with our iSucceed Mentorship Program as a mentor for a few years.

Major: MS Computer Science

Hometown: Hyderabad, India

View Saketh’s Speech at our Spring/Summer 2023 ISSS Graduation Celebration event!

What is your dream job?

My dream job is to work as a Software Engineer with Apple. The curriculum design for the MS Computer Science Program at SJSU helps me a lot in pursuing this goal as it is designed to impart the necessary knowledge and practical skills that I would need to get to my dream Job. SJSU also has many opportunities to hone your leadership skills and build connections, which I believe will add a lot of value in achieving my goal.

What types of activities are you involved in at SJSU or in the community?

International Peer Mentor – iSucceed Mentorship Program

Team Member (Media) – SJSU Hike Club

Volunteer – SJSU Garden

What is something that you want others to know about your hometown, home country or culture?

Hyderabad is a city that is steeped in history and culture, and is known as the “City of Pearls” for its famous pearl trade. The city is home to iconic landmarks such as the Charminar, an impressive monument built in the 16th century, and the historic Golconda Fort. The city is also famous for its delicious cuisine, which includes spicy biryanis, haleem, and kebabs. The people of Hyderabad are known for their warmth and hospitality, making it a wonderful place to visit or live in.

What do you enjoy most about SJSU?

The people, the opportunities, the culture and the overall environment.

Where is your favorite spot on our campus and why?

My favorite Spot would be the SJSU Student Union. It has games, food, the bookstore and a great place to relax.

What do you wish you would have known sooner about life in the U.S. or being at SJSU?

It’s important to be proactive and take advantage of the many resources available to us and the people at SJSU are very friendly and helpful.

What message do you have for our Global Spartan community?

To our Global Spartan community, I want to emphasize the importance of balancing academic success with mental and physical health. As students, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the demands of coursework and extracurricular activities, but it’s crucial to prioritize self-care and seek out campus resources when needed. I want to remind our community to have fun and enjoy the college experience. While academic success is important, college is also a time for personal growth, exploration, and making lasting memories. Don’t be afraid to try new things, join clubs and organizations, and connect with your fellow Spartans. Remember that difficulties are temporary and that with the right mindset and support, you can overcome any challenge.

Student Spotlight: Alyssa Ung

Alyssa Ung

Alyssa is one of the first faces that you will see when you walk into the CPGE building so make sure to say hi!

Major: MS Human Factors

Hometown: Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

What is your dream job?

My dream job would be a User Experience (UX) Designer/Researcher. Being in such a diverse community at SJSU, I’ve had the opportunity to expand my network and connect with students, faculty, and staff that have enriched my learning experience. Also being in the heart of Silicon Valley, I am exposed to the myriad of opportunities in the tech world.

What types of activities are you involved in at SJSU or in the community?

Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES SJSU Student Chapter), Girls Who Code (GWC), Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), iSucceed International Peer Mentor Program

What is something that you want others to know about your hometown, home country or culture?

Penang is a beautiful island and I think everyone should visit! Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures and our unique blend of cultures makes our food extra special. Our unofficial national dish is Nasi Lemak which is fragrant coconut rice with spicy sambal, often also topped with cucumbers, an egg and crispy fried anchovies. The dish is said to be a representation of Malaysia because each component is independent on its own yet delicious when mixed together. Personally, I think that it is because the dish is very adaptable to the influences from each culture with delicious variations of nasi lemak dishes available all around the country.

What do you enjoy most about SJSU?

Most probably the community. Campus organizations do a good job of hosting events that cater to the diverse community giving me the opportunity to experience and explore different things.

Where is your favorite spot on our campus and why?

I love hanging out at the Student Wellness Lounge. I get really productive with my work there. I also love the Ginger Market because they have various Asian snacks and different cup/bowl noodles.

What do you wish you would have known sooner about life in the U.S. or being at SJSU?

Help is everywhere. Don’t be shy at asking for help. It can get lonely being away from family and home but more often than not, other people are feeling the same. So lean on your community and ask for help when you need it.

What message do you have for our Global Spartan community?

You get as much as you give! Get involved with clubs and organizations to make the most out of your college experience. It also looks great on your resume.

Fulbright Scholar: Dr. Satya Sundar Sethy

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Satya Sundar Sethy, Senior Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai, India for two virtual talks. Dr. Sethy is currently a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence pursuing his research and lecturing tasks at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. He will be visiting us virtually at San Jose State University for the following discussions:

Integrating Emotion into Engineering Design and Innovation: Risks and Responsibilities of Engineers

Globalization of Science and Engineering Education: Benefits and Opportunities

These events are open to SJSU faculty, staff, and students. We hope that you will be able to join us for one or both of these talks.

About Dr. Sethy

Dr. Satya Sundar Sethy is a senior Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India. At present he is awarded the Scholar-in-Residence Fulbright Fellowship to pursue his research and lecturing tasks at Snow College, Ephraim, Utah, the USA. During his Fulbright fellowship, he was invited to give lecture talks at University of Mississippi, Oxford; Utah State University, Utah; Utah Valley University, Utah; Texas A&M University, Texas, the USA.

Dr. Sethy is the recipient of the prestigious Young Philosopher Award (2017), conferred by the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Ministry of Education, Government of India. He has also served at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) as Assistant Professor in the Staff Training and Research Institute of Distance Education (STRIDE), New Delhi. He has published several papers in prestigious journals and contributed chapters to the edited books. His publications include the books Introduction to Logic and Logical Discourse (2021), Higher Education and Professional Ethics: Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers (edited, 2018), Assessment of Learner Performance (With Mishra, S., 2018), Meaning and
Language (2016), Contemporary Ethical Issues in Engineering (edited, 2015), and Indian Philosophy: Orthodox Systems (2010).

His current research interests are Academic ethics; engineering ethics; assessment and evaluation in higher education; academic freedom and institutional autonomy, engineering education, consciousness studies; Aristotelian logic; and Indian philosophy. He may be contacted at satyasundar20012001@gmail.com; satyasundar@iitm.ac.in

Student Spotlight: Vy Nguyen

Vy Nguyen

Vy has been one of our amazing peer mentors in the iSucceed Mentorship program since Fall 2021. 

Major: BA Management Information System

Home Country: Vietnam

 

Why did you decide to become a Peer Mentor?

Because I wanted to evolve in the campus’s activities and make new friends and learn from them.

What do you enjoy about being a part of the iSucceed Program?

I got to know new friends and had memories together.

What types of activities are you involved in at SJSU or in the community?

Me and my mentees usually attend in the clubs activities or the career center’s events.

What do you enjoy most about SJSU?

I always got helps whenever I wanted to. And people are super supportive and responsive.

Where is your favorite spot on our campus and why?

Student union or just under the shades where I can meet up and talk with my friends or study

What message do you have for our Global Spartan community?

Thank you for creating such a great community where we can learn, grow, and have fun together

Student Spotlight: Ali Sherpa

Ali Sherpa

Ali has been one of our amazing peer mentors in the iSucceed Mentorship program since Fall 2021. 

Major: BS in Biology with minor in Chemistry

Home Country: Kathmandu, Nepal

Why did you decide to become a Peer Mentor?

I wanted to help fellow international students navigate through their college life in a new country. As an international student myself, I think I understand their concerns and can relate to them on many levels.

 

What types of activities are you involved in at SJSU or in the community?

Vice president of  Global Student Network

Treasurer of Women Wellness Organization

Club Coordinator in International House

Where is your favorite spot on our campus and why?

My favorite spot is the 5th floor of MLK library. I like to study there and enjoy the view as well.

What message do you have for our Global Spartan community?

Please help one another as we are all here to build our future. Being kind will make yours and someone else’s day.