Congratulations, Class of 2022!
Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas and Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair, rang bells to greet new graduates as they departed the Activity Center on May 16, 2022 following each of the school’s three commencement ceremonies.
On such a sunny day, Adams’ commencement speech was prescient. “Even the darkest night will end, and the sun will rise,” she said, quoting a phrase that originated in Les Misérables. Adams noted that all had struggled through the dark days of the pandemic and are now emerging on the other side.
New to graduation festivities this year was the inaugural Universitywide commencement ceremony held on a Sunday night. John Olajide, who earned his bachelor’s degree from the Jonsson School in 2004 and went on to become founder and CEO of health care technology company Axxess, gave the keynote address at the event that included graduates from all UT Dallas schools, a live band and fireworks.
Spring Commencement
“UTD was awesome!” said Laura Vargas Ortiz, who earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. “I’m grateful for all the friendships and dance breaks between homework engagements. WHOOSH! I’m also starting medical school in August.”
Commencement Brights
Genann Obeda
When she was a student in high school, Graduate Genann Obeda learned about careers in engineering through a mentorship program.
“When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, ‘I want to be the Beyoncé of engineering!’” Obeda said. “I am a first-generation college student and an immigrant, so the reason I even knew about engineering was because of all the amazing women mentors I met. So I just thought, I want to be like them — I want to be the Beyoncé of engineering.”
At commencement, Obeda wore a decorated cap with distinctive bees, flowers and the phrase Beyoncé of Engineering in gold lettering. She is currently interviewing for her first role as an engineer.
Humayoon Akhtar Qaimkhani
“I thought the new University-wide commencement ceremony was excellent,” said Humayoon Akhtar Qaimkhani, who earned his degree in computer science and has begun working as a software engineer. “It was a great opportunity to meet my friends as well as faculty. It gives a message of unity, and it was a great event to celebrate.”
At the inaugural event, the keynote speaker was John Olajide, who earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications engineering from the Jonsson School in 2004 and is now president and CEO of Axxess, a leading home health care technology company. He is also co-chair of New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas.
“John Olajide really inspired me,” Qaimkhani said. “I look up to him. It makes me think, this is the American dream, and achieving all that he has in twenty years is inspiring.”
Habib Kalia
Habib Kalia chatted with Dr. Lawrence Overzet, professor of electrical and computer engineering, in the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center following his commencement ceremony.
Kalia expressed appreciation to Overzet for a fun time learning in a fundamentals class that he had taught, as well as securing a way for hands-on lab technology to be brought to the students’ homes because of the pandemic.
Kalia, a computer engineering graduate, will now work for Allstate Insurance as a full stack software engineer.
“What he is going to be doing is giving his professors major insurance discounts,” Overzet joked.
Kalia’s graduation regalia represented his many achievements and organizations, such as his summa cum laude adornment, Phi Kappa Phi pin, and Tau Beta Pi and Alpha Lambda Mu stoles.
“It’s been a big part of my time at UTD,” he said. “The fraternity – they keep me accountable.”
Alisa Thomas
Alisa Thomas is headed to work for Texas Instruments Inc. in California after earning her master’s degree in electrical engineering this spring.
“It felt good – UTDone!” she said.
Thomas also earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering last year from UT Dallas.
“It was brutal,” she said, of having her senior year during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It didn’t feel like much of a graduation.
“I’m actually glad I stayed for an extra year,” she said, referring to in-person activities.
She decorated her graduation her graduation cap with “EE”, the initials for her degree, surrounded by a circuit board.
“Because I’m a nerd,” she said. “Only at UTD – I don’t know anywhere else that would accept me.”
Commencement Student Speakers
Danyal Siddiqui
PhD’22 (biomedical engineering)
Danyal Siddiqui came to The University of Texas at Dallas in 2011 from the Islamic School of Irving and graduated with a PhD in biomedical engineering. He was awarded an Academic Excellence Scholarship and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2015. Siddiqui then completed his master’s degree in biomedical engineering in 2016. Siddiqui served as treasurer of the Biomedical Engineering Society chapter at UT Dallas from 2015 to 2019 and was supported by a Jonsson Family Bioengineering Fellowship in 2016. In 2017, he received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship in addition to a Eugene McDermott Graduate Fellowship. That same year, he won first place in the Three Minute Thesis Competition at UT Dallas. Since May 2014, he has been performing research on dental biomaterials in the lab of Dr. Danieli Rodrigues. To date, Siddiqui has accomplished six first-author and 14 co-author journal publications. In addition to research, he has served as a teaching assistant for several bioengineering courses. After graduation, he plans to continue with postdoctoral training in oral immunology at the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Yun Ho Jung
BS’22 (computer science)
Yun Ho Jung came to The University of Texas at Dallas from Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. After joining, UTD in August 2018, he received an Academic Excellence Scholarship with Honors. He served as an undergraduate researcher in the Evolutionary Information Lab and published a research paper in an academic journal in the field of computational biology. Jung also published an edutainment mobile app to teach students about molecular biology. He served as a Association for Computing Machinery Industry Mentor for the 2022 ACM Projects. In addition to his classwork, he joined IBM in 2020, and since then he has worked on various projects such as creating a tool to combat human trafficking, connecting government and services to those in need and formulating artificial intelligence to assist hospitals and doctors. After graduation, Jung plans to continue his full-time position at IBM and pursue a master’s degree in the near future in the field of artificial intelligence.
Wasta Shafquat
BS’22 (mechanical engineering)
Wasta Shafquat came to UT Dallas from Pakistan. She is graduating from the Erik Johnson School of Engineering and Computer Science with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She has worked as a manager at the Student Union and as a grader for the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Since her freshman year, Shafquat has been an active member of the Pakistani Students’ Association and now leaves her position as president to start a new chapter in her life at Schlumberger. She is loved by many and is described by peers as compassionate, caring and hard-working.
Spring 2022 Commencement Ceremonies
| Ceremony Programs | Recording |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Hooding Ceremony | YouTube |
| Software Engineering Software Engineering: Executive Computer Science (graduate only) Biomedical Engineering | YouTube |
| Computer Science (undergraduate only) | YouTube |
| Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Material Science and Engineering Mechanical Engineering Telecommunications Engineering Systems Engineering and Management | YouTube |
