Congratulations, Class of 2024!

The Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas is pleased to announce more than 1,300 graduates in the spring of 2024.

Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, Jonsson School dean, professor of systems engineering and Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair, welcomed families and reminded graduates of how families, friends and teachers inspire us and motivate us through life’s struggles. She described how through setbacks during her formative years, she developed her own resilience. She reminded students that while they have faced challenges, what will matter most is what they do with their education throughout their lives, particularly to make a difference in the lives of others.

Adams cited Shirley Chisholm, an American politician who was the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and who became the first black candidate for a major party nomination for president of the United States in 1972, who famously stated, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” then added her own spin: “If they give you a seat at the table, bring someone else and a chair for them.”

Adams emphasized that graduates should approach their new status with humility. She quoted faith leader Gordon B. Hinckley who said, “Being humble means recognizing we are not on Earth to see how important we can become but to see how much difference we can make in the lives of others.”

She concluded with lines from the song Find Your Impossible Dream: “And the world will be better for this/That one man — and I must add — or woman, scorned and covered with scars/Still strove with their last ounce of courage/I can honestly say, I am both peaceful and calm.”

Student speakers included Miguel Angel Enriquez Salgado BS’24, who balanced an aggressive course load with work and other commitments to complete his degree in mechanical engineering as a first-generation Hispanic engineer. Salgado joked that his skills now extend from getting the best deal when ordering pizza — by calculating the cost efficiency of pizza per inch — to bigger challenges like space exploration.

Other speakers included Lillie McMaster BS’24 in computer science who acknowledged how the broader UT Dallas community — including its Discord community subculture — and a Minecraft study soundtrack helped her to focus and Ujwal Shah MS’24 in computer science who described his UT Dallas experience as an international graduate student through the lens of Bollywood.

The diverse array of graduates celebrated together at the Activity Center, then visited the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center where they began the next phase of their journeys as UT Dallas alumni.

Hooding Ceremony Speaker

As part of this spring’s commencement ceremonies, Dr. Izabelle de Mello Gindri PhD ’16, was the featured speaker at the spring 2024 doctoral hooding ceremony on May 10. To learn more about Dr. de Mello Gindri and her groundbreaking start-up work in her native Brazil, check out this article from the most recent Voyager magazine.

Commencement Student Speakers

Miguel Angel Enriquez Salgado
BS, mechanical engineering,
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering
and Computer Science

Lillie McMaster
BS, software engineering,
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering
and Computer Science

Ujwal Sandeep Shah
MS, computer science,
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering
and Computer Science

Commencement Brights

Pawandeep Matharu

Pawandeep Matharu (left) and his faculty advisor Dr. Yonas Tadesse (right), a professor of mechanical engineering, celebrate earning his PhD in mechanical engineering.

Matharu studied soft robotics and artificial muscles.

“UTD is a destination for studying soft robotics – did you know that?” Matharu said.

Olivia Barlow

Olivia Barlow BS’24, arrived at her commencement ceremony with an impeccably decorated crown on her cap to celebrate earning her degree in computer science.

“I decorated this cap with items from Michael’s — my mom actually works there.” Barlow said. “Neither of my parents graduated from college, so I’m kind of the heir.

“After this, I’m going to go home with my boyfriend and enjoy some DoorDash!”

Following graduation, Barlow will begin her career at Amazon in Seattle.

Lydia Knollmeyer

Lydia Knollmeyer BS’24 proudly sported an athlete stole for her years on the Comets volleyball team.

“I came to UT Dallas to play volleyball,” Knollmeyer said.

Knollmeyer, who is from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, played for the Comets throughout her college career and was named Academic All-ASC for three seasons.

After graduating with her degree in mechanical engineering, she plans to stay in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“I was an intern at Texas Instruments last summer, so I accepted a job.”

Sydney King

What was Sydney King’s throwback inspiration when crafting her graduation cap?

“Definitely Elle Woods,” King said. “I didn’t study law, but it works here.”

Elle Woods is the protagonist of the movie and Broadway play Legally Blonde, who made through Harvard Law School with her own sense of style, despite pushback from friends and family who expected her to stick to something less difficult. She said, “What, like it’s hard?” when her then-boyfriend asked her incredulously if she was accepted into the program.

“You’ll notice that the font is Visual Studio Code,” said King, who earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

“I also had to put a bow on it.”

Emre Guzelordu, Emmanuel Giah and Julian Gay

Three computer science grads are ready to walk. From left, Emre Guzelordu represents the Delta Tau Delta social fraternity, Emmanuel Giah takes a moment and Julian Gay sports a National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) stole.

Gay served as vice president of NSBE and will continue his education at Penn State as a computer science PhD student where he will study AI simulation. He also has big plans for a corporate career following his doctoral studies.

“I want to own my own company one day,” Gay said.