Student Profile – Kevin Hong

Meet Kevin Hong, a second-year Mechanical Engineering student at San José State University (SJSU) with a passion for cars and engineering. Growing up in Oakland, CA, Kevin’s journey began with building Lego cars and trucks, watching “Top Gear,” and diving deep into the technical explanations offered by YouTuber Engineering Explained. His fascination with how and why things work laid the foundation for a career in mechanical engineering.

Kevin’s high school Creative Technology class introduced him to design and manufacturing, igniting his interest further. But it was joining SJSU’s Formula SAE team that truly put him on the fast track. Initially starting with little knowledge, Kevin learned by doing—designing sprockets and axles for the team’s race car. His hands-on work in the shop, supported by dedicated mentors at Spartan Racing, helped him develop confidence and expertise. This practical experience, Kevin says, has been an incredibly rewarding part of his education.

Last summer, Kevin interned at Kleinfelder, a civil engineering firm that gave him a new perspective on how engineering impacts everyday life. His role involved assisting engineers in ensuring transmission lines were up to code and interpreting historical data. While civil engineering wasn’t his original focus, the experience opened Kevin’s eyes to the breadth of engineering and its applications beyond just technology.

Kevin advises other students not to limit their education to just the classroom. “Don’t fail your classes, but definitely work on projects outside of them,” he says. Encouraging others to step out of their comfort zones, build practical skills, and communicate with others to open doors to new opportunities—just as he did in landing his internship.

Like many, Kevin has faced doubts, especially when it comes to leadership. Now tasked with leading a team, he’s learning to overcome feelings of inadequacy by acknowledging that he’s still early in his career and that leadership is a skill developed over time. “Take a breather and acknowledge your situation. Not everyone is perfect, and the best way to learn is through mistakes,” he says.

Kevin’s ultimate goal isn’t defined by a specific job title but by a desire to broaden his horizons. “I want to learn as much as I can about the world,” he shares. “Engineering doesn’t just teach technical skills—it teaches problem-solving and other life lessons that will help me grow both personally and professionally.”

Even though Kevin has only started his sophomore year, he is off to a great start and deep understanding of the industry he will be joining after graduating in 2027.

10th Annual Conference on Engineering Diversity

This past weekend, the Conference for Engineering Diversity (CED) marked a huge milestone by celebrating the 10th anniversary of the event. In 2014, a group of students came together with the idea of creating a conference that would help spread awareness and create opportunities for engineering students at SJSU from diverse backgrounds. CED started with only a few sponsors and less than 100 participants but soon grew into an event that encouraged an unexpected number of individuals to attend. Fast forward to 2024, the conference had over 750 registered participants, spanning the entire second floor of the Student Union, and gave out over $10,000 in raffle prizes, innovative competition awards, and scholarships, all of which built into a day of connections for those hungry to network. With over 15 participating companies from CSI and Core Builders to Lockheed Martin and Berkeley Labs, this year’s conference was able to put on workshops, resume reviews, offer free headshots from professional photographers, and network. This was an incredible day full of opportunities and support not only for the diverse SJSU campus but for other higher education properties around the Bay Area to enjoy.

“The organizers of the event would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the incredible volunteers for their efforts in making this year’s conference the best one yet! CED volunteers elevated the experience for attendees by going the extra mile to make everyone feel welcomed, supported, and included.  A lasting impact was made on the success of the conference through the dedication, enthusiasm, and professionalism of the volunteers. Thank you all for your support and commitment, we wouldn’t be able to do it without you and we can’t thank you enough,” said Mathew Stowe, Director of MESA and Students Programs Minority Engineering Program.

Historical Events on October 24

1861: the first transcontinental telegraph line was completed in the United States, connecting the West to East coast
1885: Alice Perry was born, she was the first woman to receive a degree in engineering in Europe
1946: the V-2 No. 13 rocket took the first photo of Earth from outer space
2007:  Chang’e 1 was the first satellite in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program that was launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It was named after the Chinese moon goddess

The Future of Connectivity: Understanding 6G and Its Potential Impact on Technology and Applications – Prof. Ahmed Banafa

6G technology, though still in its conceptual phase, promises to revolutionize telecommunications and digital infrastructure in ways that far surpass 5G. This emerging technology will offer many benefits to the public, including faster data rates, more reliable connections, immersive experiences such as virtual reality, augmented reality, holographic communication, 3D digital spaces, and better remote work, improved healthcare, superior education, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. 6G will reduce the need to travel for work, leisure, education, or healthcare, which will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

From terahertz frequencies enabling ultra-fast data transmission to AI-driven networks with sub-millisecond latency, 6G will unlock unprecedented capabilities like real-time holographic communication, autonomous systems, and immersive extended reality experiences. Read more about the exciting future of 6G and discover how it could redefine the way we live, work, and interact.

Read the full article.

Student Profile – Antonio Hueso-Fernandez

Let’s give a  big College of Engineering hello to your fellow student, Antonio Hueso-Fernandez, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Antonio was born and raised in the town of Pajaro which lies in a corner of Watsonville, California. Watsonville is known in general for its agriculture, more specifically for its strawberries.

Antonio’s mother was born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico, and came to the United States
after she married his father. Antonio’s mother did not have an opportunity to pursue higher education here in the United States. His father was born and raised in Watsonville and did not initially go the college route but after getting married, he soon realized that higher education would give him the best chance at supporting a new family. Antonio’s father graduated from San José State University (SJSU) with a degree in electrical engineering in 2008.

“From an early age, both of my parents instilled the idea of higher education into my siblings and me. They made many sacrifices to give us the best opportunity to pursue a college degree,” said Antonio.  His parents were delighted that he chose SJSU because of its proximity and the fact that his father also attended.

His father’s co-workers allowed him to shadow them which gave him insights into different types of engineering especially in mechanical engineering. “I enjoyed both the hands-on and computer-aided design aspects of mechanical engineering. Having the ability to see your creative mind go to work designing any object and seeing it physically is something that is truly magical,” he added.

This past summer Antonio interned at Nokia as a Mechanical Design Engineer, where he was given a detailed 10-week program from Jimmy Huynh, an employee at the company. This program consisted of various professional presentations and projects that helped the interns enhance their skills and learn some new ones. Antonio learned geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), conducting thermal and static loads with computational fluid dynamics (CFDs), and understanding multiple manufacturing processes in this training program. The opportunity gave Antonio unique insight into the workforce, shaping his professional career.

Antonio’s advice for someone trying to land either an internship or a new grad opportunity is to apply to as many as possible and to network with everyone! His internship at Nokia was a direct result of someone who got him in contact with the right person. He also suggests getting involved with student organizations, because that is where you can expand your professional network.

After he graduates Antonio plans on joining a company that is a global leader in its space but is open to all industries. He has aspirations of putting in the hard work and eventually becoming a CEO. With this goal in mind, he must first accomplish some milestones which include graduating from a master’s program in mechanical engineering, and then potentially pursuing a PhD program.

LightPoint lab dedication and ribbon cutting

This week, a ribbon cutting and plaque reveal event was held at the College of Engineering. LitePoint, a player in the semiconductor testing industry, had their company’s name attached to two labs:  IS lab E117 and the Dan Cheadle lab in E238.

LitePoint specializes in manufacturing equipment to help its customers develop and deliver new products quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.  The company generously donated 5G test equipment to the College of Engineering.  This will enable students to further their knowledge with the latest testing technology.

Thanks to LitePoint for the donation and for helping the CoE continue the tradition of hands-on learning for students.

Customers raise concerns of 23andMe’s handling of genetic information featuring Prof. Ahmed Banafa

Concerns have been raised about how 23andMe could potentially handle customer information due to the company’s uncertain future.  In 2023, 23andme was hacked and around 7 million customers’ DNA information was exposed. All 7 board members recently resigned making the public wonder what will happen to the company. The South San Francisco-based DNA and ancestry company is currently floundering, and customers have raised concerns about what may happen to their personal information if the company is sold.

SJSU technology expert, Professor Ahmed Banafa weighed in on the discussion in a recent interview with NBC Bay Area.  See the interview and read the full story here.

Student Profile – Komal Venugopal Vattumilli

Komal Venugopal Vattumilli, a final-year Master’s student in Software Engineering here at SJSU, is not just preparing for graduation but actively shaping the future.

Komal earned his bachelor’s in Computer Science from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) before working as a full-time software engineer for three years, gaining experience with a variety of technologies, including AWS, Java, Python, Kubernetes, ETL, and DevOps. His work won three Spot Awards and was published in international research papers focused on machine learning and cloud computing.

“I’ve always aimed to stay updated with emerging technologies,” Komal explains. He actively participates in conferences and hackathons, winning two to date, demonstrating his commitment to continuous hands-on learning.

He is the first in his family to study abroad and pursue a graduate degree. “I wanted to show the value of higher education to future generations,” he shares.

Komal’s passion for engineering sparked in high school and deepened in college after he witnessed a near accident involving a blind child, inspiring him to create an “Intelligent Guidance System for the Visually Impaired.” It uses GPS sensors and cloud-based image processing.

Recently he landed an internship with Salesforce, working on the Fileforce team, where he helped implement a scalable gater system and integrated monitoring tools to enhance performance and reliability. A  project he worked on was a Slack bot using Python, which automated server remediations and utilized machine learning to predict and reduce downtimes by 30%. “This experience taught me the importance of scalability and performance in enterprise-level software systems,” he said.

For those seeking internships, Komal emphasizes the power of networking and persistence. “Start early and don’t be discouraged by rejections. Networking can lead you to great opportunities,” he advises. Also don’t overlook small start-ups, they can offer some great learning opportunities. Utilize resources like the Career Center and career fairs to maximize all the resources that are available to students.

Overwhelmed by the transition from undergraduate to professional life, Komal embraced continuous learning and seeking mentorship, and he was able to face his doubts and grow stronger. To others facing similar struggles, he says “Acknowledge that doubts are normal, invest in learning, and small, achievable goals.”

Looking ahead, Komal plans to secure a full-time Software Engineer role in San Francisco, and hopefully grow into a Senior Software Architect or Engineering Manager. He is also open to the idea of launching his own startup, focusing on innovative cloud-based solutions or AI applications.

Blending technical expertise and a passion for community impact, Komal is poised to make significant contributions to the industry. As he continues his journey, he inspires others to pursue their passions fearlessly and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead.

Aqueous Battery Consortium for Clean Energy Storage

Photo by Robert C. Bain

San José State University has joined a groundbreaking energy research project, the Aqueous Battery Consortium, alongside Stanford, SLAC National Accelerator Lab, and other top institutions. Supported by up to $62.5 million from the Department of Energy, the project aims to develop a sustainable, cost-effective battery primarily made from water and abundant materials. SJSU’s associate professor Dahyun Oh is contributing through her work on battery interfaces, offering students from minority-serving institutions a rare opportunity to collaborate on cutting-edge energy solutions.

Read the full story here.

Department of Aviation & Alaska Partnership

The aviation industry faces a critical pilot shortage, and San José State University (SJSU) has teamed up with Alaska Airlines to address the issue. Through Alaska’s Pilot Development Program, SJSU students now have a faster, more affordable route to becoming commercial pilots. This partnership offers aspiring pilots mentorship, financial support, and a conditional job offer early in their college careers, as soon as sophomore year. With Alaska Airlines recognizing SJSU’s strong aviation program, this collaboration is a significant milestone, giving the university increased credibility and opening more opportunities for its growing aviation workforce.

Read the full story here.

Hispanic Heritage Month- SOLES @SJSU

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of San Jose State University’s most impactful student organizations: SOLES (The Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists). As a dual chapter of SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers) and MAES (Latinos in Science and Engineering), SOLES plays a crucial role in supporting the Latino community in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at SJSU. The club is dedicated to closing the representation gap in STEM fields by providing professional development, networking, and mentorship opportunities, while also giving back through community outreach.

A Mission of Empowerment

SOLES has one core mission, to empower Latinos in STEM by equipping them with the tools they need to succeed. This mission reflects a broader challenge facing Latino students, who remain underrepresented in STEM fields. SOLES is working to change that by fostering a strong, supportive community, and offering resources like resume workshops, mock interviews, and company tours with tech giants like Lockheed Martin, Apple, and Cisco. The club also focuses on social bonding activities such as beach days and hikes, ensuring members feel a sense of “familia” in addition to professional growth.

Meet the Leaders

For this academic year, SOLES is led by a dedicated team, including:

• President: Antonio Hueso-Fernandez
• VP of Outreach: Jaime Salinas
• VP of Academics: Alyssa Escalante
• Treasurer: Maria Fernanda Palacios
• Secretary: Caroline Hernandez

Plus several other board members that play essential roles in the club’s daily activities and long-term goals.

Addressing Challenges for Latino Students in STEM

Many Latino students in STEM face unique challenges, such as being the first in their families to attend college, or not having early exposure to engineering environments. SOLES recognizes these obstacles and strives to create opportunities for its members to develop the skills necessary to thrive. By offering professional workshops, networking events, and community support, SOLES helps Latino students overcome these barriers and positions them as strong candidates for the job market.

Success Stories

SOLES has built an impressive track record of success. In the 2023-2024 academic year alone, the club earned several awards, including MAES Chapter of the Year and SHPE Region 1 Chapter of the Year. Its members frequently secure coveted internships and jobs: Javier Gomez landed an internship with NVIDIA after attending their company visit, and Esthefani Montelon also earned an internship with Pratt & Whitney after attending the SHPE National Convention, sponsored by SOLES.

Inspiring Future Generations

SOLES is not only focused on supporting its current members but also on inspiring the next generation of Latino STEM professionals. Through initiatives like Science Extravaganza, which introduces middle school students to STEM fields, and Equipando Padres University, a workshop that helps guide first-year students and their parents through the college experience. Allowing SOLES to address the problem at its roots and foster early engagement with STEM.

Inclusivity and Collaboration

Though SOLES is focused on empowering the Latino community, the organization aims to collaborate with students and organizations from all backgrounds. They actively partner with other groups, such as the Black Alliance of Scientists and Engineers (BASE), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), to broaden their impact and advocate for the success of underrepresented groups in STEM.

Legacy

As the leaders of SOLES prepare for life after graduation, their vision for the legacy is to establish SOLES as a leading organization on both the SHPE and MAES national stages. They want to ensure that SJSU continues to be recognized as a hub for producing industry-ready Latino engineers, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce. For students considering a career in STEM, SOLES offers this advice: “Keep going, it will be challenging, but it will get better. Just keep pushing forward.”

SOLES will host its first general meeting of the semester on Friday, October 4th at 5:00 PM in ENGR 285 room.

To stay up to date follow their Instagram page @soles.sjsu

Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC)

The ESSC Peer Mentorship Program is off to a great start! Volunteer Engineering graduate students and their respective mentees gathered to network, build connections, and kick off their journey at a memorable in-person mixer. We are grateful to our graduate peer mentors for volunteering their time this semester to support fellow graduate students new to the College of Engineering.

Fall 2024 ESSC Peer Mentors :

• Aditya Dinkarbhai Nayak
• Aditya Kulkarni
• Anthony Kommareddy
• Atharva Jadhav
• Harsha Garine
• Ishan Sharma
• Lahari Sri Thamilselvan
• Natalie Dominguez Barrios
• Pragya Jain Santosh
• Pranjali Himanshu Sanghvi
• Prashant Surupsing Gavit
• Reshma Vipul Kanade
• Rishabh Jain
• Rohit Perumal Chidhambara Babu
• Sai Deepak Reddy Mannem
• Shilpi Dey
• Subramanya Jagadeesh
• Suresh Ravuri
• Tripti Ghanghas
• Utkarsh Satishkumar Shah
• Venkat Gowtham

Top 5 Tech Trends to Watch in 2025: An In-Depth Analysis – Prof. Ahmed Banafa

As we approach 2025, the tech landscape is rapidly evolving, with groundbreaking innovations set to transform industries and daily life. These top five trends, ranked by Professor Banafa, are shaping the future, from 5G expansion and early 6G research to advanced battery technology revolutionizing energy storage. Other trends include biotech breakthroughs like precision medicine, lab-grown organs, the rise of practical quantum computing, and AI 2.0’s deep integration into human-machine collaboration.

Read the full story. 

Student Profile – Kelly Nguyen

Kelly Nguyen is a first-generation Vietnamese American and Master’s candidate in Software Engineering at SJSU, specializing in data science. With her graduation set for May 2025, Kelly has made impressive strides in her journey. She is the first in her family to pursue higher education, driven not only by a desire to honor her parents’ sacrifices, but also by expressing her passion in life. Kelly stated, “I have no one else than my parents to thank for building me up and providing me with such a supportive foundation.”

Growing up, Kelly always enjoyed solving problems, whether it was building with Legos or expressing her creativity through baking, art, and design. This love for creating and finding solutions sparked a passion for software engineering. “I realized I could channel my creativity into UI/UX design and bring my solutions to life through coding,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s academic journey has been accompanied by valuable hands-on experience. During an internship at Stanford University’s School of Biodesign, she helped develop CardinalKit, a mobile medical framework for doctors and developers to create their own applications. This experience solidified her desire to align software engineering with the betterment of communities.

Currently, Kelly is a full-time intern at Zipline, a logistics and drone delivery startup whose mission aligns perfectly with her own goals. Being on the Enterprise Systems team, she works on end-to-end enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications and collaborates with other developers. “The experience has taught me so much, not only about responsible engineering but also how a strong company culture can impact your career,” she says.

Her advice for students seeking internships is: “Don’t be afraid to network and put yourself out there!” Kelly applied to over 50 internships, and the opportunities she landed came from networking. She encourages students to stay persistent, even when the process feels discouraging, because it will ultimately pay off.

With graduation in sight, she reflects on her undergraduate and graduate studies, Kelly admits to experiencing imposter syndrome, a phenomenon of self-doubt, intellect, and accomplishments among high-achieving individuals. “There were so many nights I thought Society of Women Engineers wasn’t for me,” she confesses. But by continuing to learn, she discovered her niche and overcame her self-doubt. Her advice to others struggling with the same feelings is to trust in your abilities. “You wouldn’t have made it this far without reason. Believe in yourself, and that belief will take you far.”

Kelly hopes to secure a full-time job in software engineering after graduation and move to San Francisco permanently. But more than anything, her end goal is to be proud of her work and happy with what she’s accomplished. As she continues her journey, Kelly Nguyen remains committed to making a meaningful impact in the world through her software engineering skills and beyond.

Aviation Activities for September:

On September 21, the Precision Flight Team, faculty, and staff hosted Open Day at the Reid-Hillview Airport in San Jose. Attendees were excited to learn about the club and to see the giant trophy the team earned at their most recent flight competition.  Several attendees expressed a great interest in being a part of the SJSU Aviation program.  Club officers Caleb Crockett, Alec Sandy, and Juan Hernandez organized the event, along with the help of faculty (Dr. Yuwei He, Dr. Kris Borgen, Wendy Hales Mora, Edgar Mora, Gretchen Kelly, Jason Hernandez, Dr. Fred Barez) and staff (Binbin Wang, Debbie Martinez).

On Sunday, September 15, a similar event was hosted at the Hayward Executive Airport: Dr. Yuwei He and Dr. Fred Barez were in attendance.  Keep up the good work, Flight Team!

Hispanic Heritage Month – Fernando Sánchez López

Fernando Sánchez López (Ferch), a 2025 Computer Engineering student at San José State University (SJSU), was awarded the 2024 CSU Trustee Award for his resilience and academic achievements. Ferch is a great example of perseverance, despite facing significant adversity, including being raised in México by his grandparents after his parents immigrated to the U.S., becoming undocumented, and relying only on scholarships to fund his education due to his status.

He sees his ability to “speak the language of computers” as a vital skill, and has been actively involved in community-building efforts throughout his education. His involvement at SJSU includes working with various campus centers and student organizations, such as the Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists (SOLES), where he found support as a Latinx engineering student.

Beyond academics, Ferch is passionate about giving back to the community, particularly by encouraging underrepresented students to pursue STEM careers. His open discussions about his undocumented status and financial struggles have inspired others facing similar challenges. The CSU Trustee Award not only provides him with financial relief but also validates his hard work and contributions. This motivates him to continue advocating for diversity, inclusion, and social justice in STEM fields.

California becomes latest state to restrict student smartphone use at school featuring Prof. Ahmed Banafa

California school districts will soon be required to create rules restricting student smartphone use under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The law aims to reduce distractions in classrooms and address the mental health impact of social media on students. However, critics argue it places too much burden on teachers and raises concerns about emergencies.

Watch the full video now!

Student Soars at PepsiCo Internship This Past Summer

When you think of PepsiCo or Frito Lay, you may think of drinks and snacks, and not necessarily consider engineering job opportunities. However, the company has employees in data science, process improvement, packaging, and software engineering,  to name a few.

Anaiya Williamson, a senior student majoring in Industrial Systems, secured an internship at  PepsiCo this past summer through the Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) organization.  Through her relationship with MLT, she was able to attend a conference in Plano, Texas where students were given the opportunity to meet with several companies.  At the conference, Anaiya met with the PepsiCo corporation. Soon after the conference, she followed up with the company on Linkedin and was invited to interview, a proof point that staying in touch and following up can lead to job opportunities.

When asked about her internship at PepsiCo, Anaiya responded by saying, “The experience was super fun, engaging, and challenging. I’ve never met that many open, kind, and humble people at a company before.” To add to her good impression of PepsiCo, Anaiya met a very diverse group of interns at PepsiCo and created new friendships that could last a lifetime.

Each of the 40 interns was paired up with a manager at PepsiCo and given a specific project to work on during the summer.  “It was amazing having your project talked about in town hall and other leadership meetings,” Anaiya added.  She was not left out in the PepsiCo environment to fend for herself and acquired an amazing network of employees to help her succeed.  At the end of the internship, Anaiya had the opportunity to present her project to the senior leadership team as well as her internship cohort, which helped her develop confidence and other soft skills that she can use in the industry.

Anaiya suggests that when taking on an internship opportunity, you really have to advocate for yourself and not be afraid of asking for help.  She was hesitant at first about asking for assistance but soon realized that there are people around you who are way more knowledgeable so why not tap into that resource? “There is no shame in asking for help.  Just be confident in yourself and realize that you have learned so much in the classes you have taken. Be confident in who you are,” said Anaiya.

Anaiya’s biggest takeaway during the internship was to always stay curious and to continuously look for areas of improvement.  She has had internships in the past, but her experience at PepsiCo exceeded her expectations, she didn’t expect everyone to be so kind and welcoming, and she didn’t expect to meet so many interns from across the country.  Her greatest piece of advice to other students looking for an internship opportunity is to not be afraid to seek a job out of state and to go out of your comfort zone.

Reaching the Hispanic Community at Noche de Ciencias – Day of Science

The Hispanic community continues to remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. Creating visibility into STEM goals and careers would make those more attractive to other Hispanics, especially the younger generation.

Enter San José State University (SJSU) engineering graduate student, José Luiz Sarabia Torres who helped host a science day earlier in September in his Redwood City, CA neighborhood.  The purpose of the evening was to enlighten Hispanic youths, and their parents about STEM goals and careers.

The evening dubbed Noche de Ciencias was a collaboration between the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), the Hispanic Society of Silicon Valley (HSSV), and United Through Education – Familia Unidas.

José is the current president of the SHPE Silicon Valley Professional Chapter.  The organization focuses on community, outreach and professional development.  Noche de Ciencias had over 200 in attendance including 70 parents, 120 children, and 20 members of the student organizations (students and professionals).

The event consisted of dinner and a networking session where families and children had the opportunity to meet SHPE Members to engage in discussions about being Hispanic in STEM. Each representative from the collaborating organizations talked about what they had to offer, their mission, and their vision for the Hispanic community.

José addressed the audience, describing his journey about growing up in the same community of Redwood City and going to the same elementary, middle, and high school as the young people in the audience. He shared how he graduated high school during the COVID-19 pandemic and how he is continuing his graduate journey in Mechanical Engineering here at SJSU.

Overall, the evening was a success and created an interest to host more events in the future that would create a pipeline for students to pursue degrees in STEM at SJSU.

Aviation Department

On Monday, September 9, 2024, a delegation of 14 students from several universities, including Kyoto, Iwate, Osaka, Toyohashi, Okayama, and Niigata University, visited the SJSU Aviation and Technology Department. This visit marked the 7th annual US-Japan Forum Delegation, hosted by Dr. Fred Barez. These students are part of a cultural exchange program between the U.S. and Japan aimed at promoting U.S. universities. The program was initiated 16 years ago by Mr. Yuji Ide to foster collaboration in science, technology, and education between the two countries. During their visit, the delegation explored the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with Dr. Fred Barez giving a presentation and highlighting master’s project studies conducted within the Engineering Technology Program. After visiting SJSU, the delegation continued their tour with visits to UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Their trip concluded with a banquet on Friday, September 13, which was attended by distinguished guests, including Dr. Chikae Asami, Consul of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, and Dr. Yusaku Nakabeppu, Director of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science in Berkeley, California.

Following this, on Sunday, September 15, 2024, the SJSU Aviation Program participated in the annual Hayward Executive Airport Day, an event they have been involved in for the past five years. Several SJSU Aviation students represented various program clubs, including Women in Aviation, Alpha Eta Rho Honor Society, Flying 20s, and the Precision Flight Team (PFT). The PFT proudly displayed their NIFA SafeCon Competition award, which they won in Wisconsin in May 2024. Leading the group, Dr. Yuwei He, Assistant Professor of Aviation, helped promote the program and engaged with numerous parents, students, and visitors. The department faculty also had the opportunity to connect with engineers from Archer Aviation, SF Drone School, Chabot College, and CSU East Bay.

Here’s a look at global impact of Bay Area computer chip industry featuring Prof. Ahmed Banafa

Semiconductor production took center stage during the recent presidential debate, with Vice President Harris accusing Trump of selling chips to China, while Trump blamed current policies for the U.S. losing ground in chip manufacturing. With Silicon Valley’s key role in the industry and the U.S. aiming to boost production by 2032, this issue hits close to home.

Read the full article now!