People

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Why BC Engineering?: When applying to college, I applied to every school except for Boston College as some sort of science major, not engineering. For Boston College, I knew I wanted to go here, but none of the STEM majors seemed appealing or unique to me until I heard about the Human-Centered Engineering Program. I chose BC because the environment is extremely collaborative: All of the engineers are friends and the staff is encouraging.

Favorite parts of the program: The elements of BC's engineering program that I enjoy the most are the environment and the mission. I immediately felt right at home in the engineering program and with the other students. My favorite class has been Making the Modern World with Professor Gaudette and Professor Tonn. Both professors and pod leaders genuinely cared about the students, learned all of our names, and were interested in our lives outside of school and how we were adjusting to Boston College. The interdisciplinary engineering and historical approach to social issues, the design project, the professors, and real world applications of this course made it the best course I have ever taken. 

Hometown: Wayzata, Minnesota

Favorite parts of the program: The students in my class are all very unique and all have a great amount of breadth in both their skills and interests. I also feel so lucky to have the quality of staff that we do in the HCE department. The faculty are always available for support and factor in our feedback so well. My favorite class so far has been Engineering Computation and Programming with Professor Govindasamy.

Why BC Engineering?: I chose BC Engineering mainly because of the newness of the program and the mission of the program to create a new form of engineer and a new way of engineering. I have always known that I have wanted to be an engineer but I also knew that I didn't want to take the traditional engineering route and immerse myself solely in STEM. I have so many interests outside of STEM and also feel that an education that only includes STEM courses is too narrow.

Hometown: Ames, Iowa

Favorite parts of the program: I really enjoyed Engineering Computation & Programming with Professor Govindasamy. I’ve enjoyed the endless support from the engineering faculty. My transition to college was complex and even during times where I was lost, I received so much support from my professors and academic advisor. It really made me felt like I truly belonged in the program.

Why BC Engineering?: I chose the engineering program because I see a benefit in using knowledge (like STEM) to uplift the communities around us. I think that combining BC’s jesuit values, and the technical knowledge of engineering can allow me to influence rebuilding or marginalized communities of people, for example. I think the well rounded approach to engineering is something that is so valuable, especially today. 

Hometown: Long Island, NY

Favorite parts of the program: I have formed lifelong friendships with my classmates through the supportive and collaborative environment present at BC. The class Engineering Computation and Programming has provided me with an introduction to specific technical skills within the discipline of engineering. This course taught me problem solving skills that are applicable to many of the other courses I will encounter through my Boston College journey. 

Why BC Engineering?: The use of project-based experiential learning at BC Engineering will allow me to be a well-informed engineer with skills of collaborative thinking. This broad scope of learning in addition to the emphasis on liberal arts will allow me to have extensive technical knowledge with the skills to communicate effectively.

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Favorite parts of the program: What I have most enjoyed about the program are my peers. The sense of community that is in this program excels far past what I ever would have imagined. My classmates have become some of my best friends and I am so thankful that the program introduced me to them. My favorite class so far has been Making the Modern World. It was an amazing combination of learning new information and tackling hands on projects.

Why BC Engineering?: BC's Engineering Program is the perfect combination of the technical engineering skills and an empathetic viewpoint on the world. In today's world, it is so important for future engineers to have a well-rounded view on the world and their responsibility, which is exactly what this program aims to do. I am so grateful to be part of this program!

Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

Why BC Engineering?: Coming from a Jesuit high school, I was attracted to the HCE program’s strong commitment to using engineering as a vehicle for promoting the greater good of society.

Favorite parts of the program: I have enjoyed the HCE program's distinctive humanistic approach to engineering. It couples technical engineering courses with the liberal arts core, fostering the development of well-rounded thinkers and interdisciplinary problem-solvers. My favorite course has been "Making the Modern World: Design, Ethics & Engineering," which focuses on the environmental, ethical, and social implications of engineering decisions throughout history. This course made me consider the social responsibility of engineers and instilled in me the importance of collaboration across diverse perspectives and disciplines

Hometown: Washington, DC

Favorite parts of the program: The group projects and homework collaboration sessions I've taken part in have given me the chance to become better at unraveling tough problems by working together with those around me. EFS IV with Professor Jonathan Krones forced me to think creatively about math and social problems. I really enjoyed the wholistic view it gave me on the real world applications of high level math in economics and other fields. 

Why BC Engineering?: I am so excited to take part in a new engineering program with faculty invested in transforming engineering education into what the world needs it to be. I am excited every day by the ways my professors are investing in me not just to learn math and science skills, but to learn how to think about where the world needs them most.

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Favorite parts of the program: My favorite part about BC’s Engineering Program is my fellow students and the incredible faculty. The culture is supportive rather than competitive, and the professors truly want us students to succeed in our classes and beyond. I am constantly encouraged and motivated by the faculty and my fellow students.

Why BC Engineering?: I chose Boston College’s Engineering Program because of its strong commitment to serving others. In all of our classes, we are constantly challenged to consider the effects of our designs on others and the environment. In the future, I want to work with a CleanTech company to assist the environmental movement, and I feel that BC’s Engineering Program will uniquely prepare me for this career. 

Hometown: Hong Kong

Favorite class: Making the Modern World: Design, Ethics & Engineering with Professor Tonn and Professor Krones was one of my favorite classes, because it embodies the interdisciplinary approach of Human-Centered Engineering. We learned about both the humanities and STEM sides of past engineering projects. In the many interesting case studies, Professor Tonn helped us explore the ethical issues with the management of the project and of the engineers, and Professor Krones would go through the engineering principles that went into this project, the mathematical explanations for why it failed, and how it can be improved. 

Why BC Engineering?: I was never completely sure I wanted to become an engineer in the future, but I did know that I wanted to hone my collaboration and critical thinking skills in college, and knew that I wanted to be able to make the world a better place through my career, whatever it may be. As an interdisciplinary engineering program focused on social good, Human-Centered Engineering aligns with my values and long-term goals, so I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. 

Hometown: Las Palmas, Spain

Favorite parts of the program: I am enjoying the close, family-like community that this major offers. It being such a small and new program allows students to easily build close relationships with other students and with professors. The department organizes study-break brunches during finals week every semester which not only is a good way to catch up with students about how the semester has gone, but also to reflect on how the program has grown over the past few years. 

Favorite class: My favorite class so far has been EFS V (Engineering Foundation Studios 5). I liked this class because it was a semester-long project-based class that gave us complete freedom to investigate whatever we wanted within our scope (in my case, sports biomechanics). We also had an experienced mentor who helped us throughout the project by giving us feedback and by providing us with equipment and software programs we wouldn't have had access to otherwise.

Hometown: Seoul, Korea

Favorite parts of the program: As a member of the inaugural class, I’ve felt their genuine commitment to guiding us through every twist and turn of our college journey. Their dedication and hard work have not only fostered an environment where we can thrive academically but also made us feel like part of a close-knit family. I will carry the warmth, encouragement, and sense of belonging they’ve given me long after I graduate, and I’ll forever be thankful for their efforts in making this experience so meaningful. 

Why BC Engineering?: The program’s rigorous curriculum broadens my technical skills while also emphasizing critical soft skills through weekly reflection sessions. By engaging deeply with core engineering principles—both collaboratively and independently—and connecting them to real-world applications, I believe that BC’s Human-Centered Engineering approach truly resonates with my values. I’m also deeply appreciative of the abundant opportunities for research and collaborative projects, which have enriched my learning experience and helped me grow as both a student and a future professional.

Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA

Favorite class: Making the Modern World was a super interesting course. That class changed my perspective on the function and responsibilities of engineers in our society. It reinforced our program's mission to nurture thoughtful engineers who not only have the capability to create innovative solutions, but also the understanding of the widespread impacts their solutions will have.

Why BC Engineering?: My favorite part of engineering so far has been our involvement in the Hatchery, the makerspace open to all students and faculty of BC in 245 Beacon. I've been lucky enough to get a job here in the Hatchery, and I love being able to expand my skills through my own hands on projects as well as the ones we do in class.

Hometown: Arlington, MA

What do I love about BC Engineering?: The Hatchery is absolutely astonishing! Not only has BC provided us with generous access to countless useful tools and machines, but the team members at the Hatchery create one of the most friendly and welcoming environments on campus. I am grateful for the opportunity to make use of this space for the intriguing engineering projects we work on in this program.

Why BC Engineering?: The Human-Centered Engineering program provided an opportunity to continue my favorite initiative: engineering for my community. With an engineering degree from Boston College, I'll be prepared to continue serving communities like my own by engineering mindful, human-centered solutions.

Hometown: Morrisville, VT

Favorite class: My favorite class has been Introduction to Human-Centered Engineering with Professor Hira. This class emphasized the importance of the term Human-Centered, as I was able to work with real people and use empathy as a tool to provide the most effective solution to their problem. In this class I also learned and cultivated skills, such as how to CAD (computer-aided design), which I found both helpful and fun. 

Why BC Engineering?: When reading about the Human-Centered Engineering program, I found that a lot of my values as an aspiring engineer aligned with what it offered. I wanted to go into a program that felt collaborative and welcoming. I felt that BC fit this description, and have since experienced the benefits of being part of such a considerate program. 

Hometown: Bound Brook, NJ

Favorite class: So far, my favorite class has been Innovation through Engineering Design with Professor Hira. She is such a great teacher. She's very knowledgable on the subject and awesome to learn from.

Why BC Engineering?: I fell in love with BC as a school in general and was interested in studying engineering. When I learned about the "human-centered" approach to the major, it made it all the more interesting.