Faruk is a 3rd year Machine Learning Ph.D. student within the homeschool of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Faruk has completed his undergraduate education in Ankara, Turkey, receiving a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. During his undergraduate education, he interned at two R&D companies, working mainly on radar systems, localization, communications, and signal processing. His current research at Tech focuses on improving communication efficiency and enhancing privacy in distributed optimization problems. Faruk likes to spend his free time experimenting with whatever is intriguing him the most at a given moment. It can be as simple as reading a book, watching a show, or, if in the mood, buying a last-minute ticket to discover some state he has never visited before. He enjoys pretty much everything outdoors, so feel free to invite him if you are going to climb, camp, hike, walk, or jump off a plane (currently in his bucket list of things to do before leaving Tech)!

Favorite Quote: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” - Walt Disney

Alesia is currently a 3rd year Mechanical Engineering major. This summer, she interned at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in Savannah, GA. At Georgia Tech, Alesia is involved in Connect, SMILE, M&M Mentoring, Women of Woodruff (WoW), and the Catholic Center. As an Executive Advisor for Connect, a First-Year Leadership Organization (FLO), Alesia helps first years connect to the Georgia Tech community, plan and run events, and build leadership skills. She has competed in VEX robotics competitions and FIRST World Championships for FTC and FRC, mentored robotics teams, ran cross country, created and taught Introduction to Engineering and Introduction to Architecture courses, and knows how to play piano and organ. Starting at Tech as an off campus student because of her food allergies, Alesia gained valuable skills in how to navigate new experiences with unique challenges all while having fun, and she enjoys helping others do the same!

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow?

After experiencing the program as a Coachee, Alesia wanted to give back by becoming a Leadership Coach. She understands how beneficial it is to have someone to talk to about leadership and help you grow as a leader in student organizations, the classroom, and life.

Ana is a 3rd Year Ph.D. student in the economics department. Her academic pursuits center around environmental economics, international trade, and development economics. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Ana was a Fulbright scholar at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where she earned a Master of Public Policy Analysis degree. Originally from Georgia, a country in Eastern Europe, she is fluent in both Georgian and English. Beyond her academic endeavors, Ana finds solace and joy in taking photos, which goes well with her love for travel and exploration. Also, she enjoys cooking Georgian national dishes and sharing them with others.

2nd Year MBA Candidate in Management of Technology

'Plan for what is difficult while it is easy. Do what is great while it is small.' - 孙子 [ Sun Tzu ]

Andrew Su is a 2nd year MBA student at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he plans to pivot to Cybersecurity Consulting or Cybersecurity Management in the future. Andrew currently serves as an Evening Ambassador, is a member of the Student Alumni Association, & is a full-time Sr. Cybersecurity Analyst at AT&T where he also serves as an experienced paddler & mentor for their paddling team. Prior to joining AT&T, he worked as a Cybersecurity Engineer at Visa & an Information Security Analyst at COUNTRY Financial. Andrew's specialty is in application security & security operations. He currently holds a Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity from University of North Georgia since December 2021. In his free time, he enjoys a plethora of activities, including paddling, weightlifting, running races, investing, cooking, skydiving, scuba diving, football (soccer), building his mini battlefield, assembling models, & playing video games.

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow?

After graduating from University of North Georgia, I aim to work to the terminal level of the individual contributor role in my current job. I also aim to pursue an MBA to advance my career not only through courses, but also through the coaching style of leadership which I previously had as a paddling mentor & a former football (soccer) coach. Being someone who has experience in a plethora of life events in a relatively short span of life, I have a strong sense of helping others through encouragement, advice, & consultation experience, both being a consultant as well as a listener through previous life experiences, & I hope to apply I that I know (as well as all that I would know) to a challenging & fruitful career.

Hailing from Chennai, India,  Ashwin studied Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in his bachelors' degre and sought to learn how the same materials can behave in a radically different ways if made in different sizes and shapes. During this time, he had the incredible opportunity to intern at Massachusetts Institute of Technology to gauge the general field of research and . At MIT, his main focus was studying nano-magnets to manage the symptoms of PTSD and Alzheimer’s. He also studied the mineral compositions of soil to improve agricultural yields in South America. But, this was also the beginning for a new leadership journey as he caught a glimpse of how teamwork and leadership proved critical in research and working towards tackling the world's greatest problems. At Georgia Tech,  Ashwin currently works in the field of Solid-State Lithium Ion batteries, marching towards a greener future. As a PhD student, he saw the importance of leadership and teamwork in every day research and how it can be a game changer for him and his team. From effective communication to identifying subconscious biases, he sought to develop various aspects of leadership to grow as an individual. Now reaping the benefits of his experience, he intends to foster a sense of leadership and help future graduates of Georgia Tech improve their leadership skills.

Cansu is currently a Ph.D. student in Aerospace Engineering at GaTech. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Türkiye. Cansu brings her previous experience in modeling and simulation of flight dynamics models in Level-D rotorcraft simulators and flight mechanics knowledge from indigenous rotorcraft design experience from her industrial background to her Ph.D. studies. She is currently conducting research at the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE) under the supervision of Dr. JVR Prasad. Her research focuses on human factors engineering and flight dynamics and control.

Daamini Visaalaakshi is a third-year graduate student majoring in Aerospace Engineering. Her research focuses on helping aircraft manufacturers build the next generation of aircraft and production systems by developing advanced methods, and architectures. She completed her bachelor’s in aerospace engineering and has around six years of professional experience in the design and development of aerospace components.She views life as a test bed for honing her leadership skills and thrives on collaborating with teams and people. Outside of her passion for aerospace, she enjoys dancing, practicing yoga, reading, and exploring the intersection of arts and technology.

Davide is a 2nd year PhD student in Electrical Engineering. Davide received his BS and MS in Electronics Engineering from Sapienza University of Rome. During his MS, Davide participated in a dual-degree program between Sapienza University of Rome and Georgia Tech receiving a MS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech. Davide is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Microfabrication and Optoelectronics and a minor in Materials Science Engineering. His research at Tech focuses on the study of compound semiconductors and the development of optoelectronic devices.

During his free time, Davide enjoys traveling, engaging in outdoor activities, and learning about different cultures. These passions led him to study for a semester at Georgia Tech Europe and to join an association of international students and scholars in Atlanta.

Devangna is a current Master's student in the School of Electrical Engineering. She completed her undergraduate engineering education from India. She worked as a Circuit Design Engineer at STMicroelectronics, India for over two years before coming back to school for graduate education. At GT, she is specializing in Nanotechnology and is currently working as a graduate research assistant at the Advanced Semiconductor Technology Facility. Her work focuses on epitaxial growth and characterization of Ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors. She spent her last summer interning at Texas Instruments, Dallas.

Devangna has been involved in several leadership positions in the past. She is currently part of the Graduate Student Wellness Committee of the SGA. She has also served as a STEM educator and ambassador at her former workplace, and the president of the Students' society of Fine Arts. She enjoys reading, painting, karaoke and crosswords.

Dinko is a 1st year ECE Ph.D. student in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy. He obtained his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Georgia Tech in Spring of 2024. His research interests include Software and Systems Security, Cyber Forensics, and AI/ML Security. He has interned at Comcast and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory. Dinko dedicates his time and energy to his faith, family, education, and health.

"Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein

Ejaz Ahmed is a PhD candidate specializing in Information and Communication Technology Policy, with a particular focus on privacy issues. His current research delves into the intricate areas of privacy legislation, antitrust regulations, and the application of AI decision-making processes in the development and deployment of hypersonic missiles. Ejaz brings a wealth of experience from his time at the Economist Intelligence Unit, where he honed his expertise in macroeconomic and public policy analysis.

He holds two master’s degrees—one in International Relations and the other in Conflict Studies—both of which have enriched his understanding of the complex dynamics between technology, governance, and global security.

In his free time, Ejaz is an avid outdoors person, enjoying activities such as hiking and bouldering. He also finds solace in reading books at the park and often hosts friends for Chai (Indian tea) at his home, embracing a warm and welcoming spirit. His adventurous side is evident in his bucket list aspirations, which include obtaining a private pilot's license, becoming a certified scuba diver, and visiting all 50 U.S. states before completing his PhD.

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow?

Throughout my life, I have benefited from the guidance of various coaches who have helped shape who I am today. Recognizing the profound impact this has had on my personal growth, I now realize the importance of coaching in becoming a wholesome person over time. It’s an unparalleled honor and opportunity to coach others in becoming the best versions of themselves, and there’s something intrinsically fulfilling in that endeavor. At the end of the day, we are all just walking each other home.

Ceren is pursuing her Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a research focus on neural signal processing for treatment-resistant depression. She received her BS from Bilkent University in Turkey. During her time, she had several internship experiences in several companies. In GT, Ceren received 2-years of Graduate Teaching Assistantship, where she enjoyed the invaluable learning/teaching experience.

"We can't solve today's problems with the mentality that created them." -Albert Einstein

Jacob is in his 7th year on campus after completing his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and then continuing onto his masters. During his time at Tech, Jacob served as philanthropy, president, and student advisor for Pi Tau Sigma, the ME honor society, and as president of Omicron Delta Kappa, the leadership honor society. He has also worked as a undergraduate tutor for the ME department (Fluids and Heat Transfer), as a private tutor (Statics, Dynamics, Differential Equations, and Thermodynamics) and as a TA (EV and the Grid). In what little free time he has, Jacob can be found playing pickup or IM sports (primarily soccer, volleyball, and basketball) or playing guitar.

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow?

I was a LEAD coachee my junior year while I was philanthropy chair of PTS. It was my first leadership position ever, and I was truly terrified that I would fall flat on my face, figuratively speaking. My coach not only gave me to confidence to step out of my comfort zone in my role, but also inspired me to run for president the following semester. I hope that, as a Leadership Fellow, I can support other aspiring leaders in the same way that my coach supported me.

Jude is a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering with the Stingelin group at Georgia Tech. Before coming to Tech, he completed his undergraduate studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana in 2021, where he graduated as class valedictorian. He also participated in a study abroad program at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea in 2019, where he found his passion for semiconducting materials. His current research focuses on understanding the factors controlling charge and matter transport processes in π-conjugated polymer materials for energy conversion and storage applications through a combination of thermal (f-DSC) and x-ray scattering techniques (GIWAXS, RXRD). Outside research, Jude enjoys playing the piano, coaching, playing video games, and watching his favorite sports teams (FC Barcelona and the Milwaukee Bucks) play. He has had experience working with various startups including Black Sisters in STEM, Prosple and African Golden Food, which have been instrumental in developing his leadership skills. At Georgia Tech, he serves on the Executive Board of both the Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Student Advisory Group (MSE GSAG) and the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCCHE).

During his time as an undergraduate at Clemson University, Lars interned at Electrolux's Anderson plant and Bosch Rexroth's Fountain Inn plant and worked as an undergraduate research assistant for two years, resulting in an international conference presentation and a first-author paper. He received several scholarships while at Clemson and graduated summa cum laude. He is now a 4th year PhD student Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech and a recipient of the President's and Brantley fellowships. He is currently in the process of publishing his first paper on his doctoral research and preparing for his doctoral thesis proposal.

"The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time." - James Taylor

Li studies vapor deposition with a particular specialization in sputtering and atomic layer deposition. Li has mentored numerous undergraduate students in his labs with all having presented at an international conference or planning on doing so. For his own undergraduate studies he studied Chemical Engineering at Calvin University in Michigan. In his free time Li enjoys being active whether it be working out, hiking outside, or playing sports. 

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow? Li looks forward to helping his coachees acknowledge their own shortcomings and learn to turn those weaknesses into strengths. He looks forward to taking on the difficult but rewarding journey that is self-improvement with his coachees. He believes that he has room to grow from a coaching perspective. In the past, Li has experience leading on sports teams and as a research mentor, but he invites the new challenge of learning to be a coach.

Growing up, I played football and baseball. I love sports and being involved in them led me to realize I leaned towards leading others. I’m an avid traveler, which led me to go to Georgia Tech Europe. On campus, I am a member of the Yellow Jacket Space Program, where I am the Vice President of Operations. I hope to become a fighter pilot and fly the F-22 but am also interested in space travel. My leadership journey is far from over and I can’t wait to work with students hoping to progress in their own journey.

Mehdia was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan where she also attended medical school. Her passion for interdisciplinary science motivated her to explore various kinds of research early on as a medical student. With the Sulchek lab, she is using microfluidics (measures cell stiffness and other physical parameters) to predict chemotherapy drug responses in leukemias while accounting for cancer heterogeneity and rare mutations. Given her medical background and experience with Health tech, Mehdia is a big proponent of translational research which can be bootstrapped to address clinical needs. Mehdia looks to weightlifting, baking, reading, writing, trying out new coffee brews, petting cats and hiking for fun.

Melek earned her bachelor’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. She is currently a PhD student in Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL). During her time in ASDL, she worked on projects in a variety of areas, from large-scale optimization to propulsion system design. In addition, she spent three years as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Aerospace Engineering for graduate-level courses, improving her mentoring, communication, time management and organization skills. She focuses on the sustainable solutions in aviation and their feasibilities. In her free time, Melek enjoys watching documentaries, reading and resistance training as well as taking pictures of GT campus with her DSLR camera.

Naveen is a dedicated aerospace engineer, armed with a master's degree from Georgia Tech and a bachelor's degree from India, currently immersed in his PhD journey. Prior to joining GT, he worked as an Impact Dynamics engineer at Bell Flight providing cost-effective rotorcraft design solutions through simulations ensuring aviation compliance. This hands-on experience provided him with a keen understanding of industry demands, fueling his drive to further his education at Georgia Tech. Currently affiliated with the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL), Naveen's research centers on multidisciplinary systems design optimization with a goal to improve civil aviation sustainability and affordability through innovative research.

Beyond the academic realm, Naveen indulges his culinary passions through cooking. Also, as a fitness enthusiast, he finds solace in the rhythmic cadence of running and the refreshing embrace of swimming. Recognizing the value of community, Naveen has dedicated countless hours to volunteering across various organizations, embodying his commitment to giving back. He enjoys a genuine tie to the world around him by fostering meaningful connections with people.

Favorite Quote: "Life isn't about how to survive the storm, it's about how to dance in the rain." - Taylor Swift

Bio: Jacob is a second-year Ph.D. student in Environmental Engineering with a focus on microbial water quality, environmental metagenomics, and public health epidemiology. Jacob received his B.S. in Environmental Science from UCLA and his M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. He is from the Adirondack region of upstate New York, where he grew up hiking, skiing, and camping in the surrounding wilderness. Jacob is currently working on projects to better understand and reduce disease transmission and risk from environmental exposure. With his degree, he hopes to find a fulfilling industry career back in the Northeast, working in water quality management, environmental genomic applications, research materials design, or a combination of all three. Outside of academics, Jacob is an avid triathlete, training in swimming, biking, and running year-round, and having competed in numerous races at different distances. He also enjoys reading, games of all varieties (board, card, and video), and traveling to new places. Upon completion of his program, Jacob's dream is to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2600-mile trek through the mountains from the Mexican to the Canadian border.

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow? After his first year at Tech, Jacob wanted to take on a more involved role in the campus community, seeking an opportunity that both gave back to fellow students, as well as improved his leadership skills and growing as an individual. He learned about LEAD and its mission for both coaches and coachees involved in the program and knew that it was a great fit for his leadership ambitions and coaching goals. Now, as a Leadership Fellow, Jacob is excited for his first year in the program and is looking forward to coaching students and learning alongside them to become a better leader.  

Rebecca is in her senior year as a BME minoring in physiology. The goal is to get her masters in BME at GT after graduation. When she's not studying she likes to spend her time outside hiking, backpacking, exploring, kayaking, caving, playing ultimate, or working at the GT leadership challenge course. While inside she likes to swing dance, play piano, cook, & bake. She grew up on a small farm with donkeys, dogs, chickens, goats, ducks, and parrots. This summer she studied abroad in Ireland & got to see how BME can be applied in a global setting. 

Taran is currently a 1st year masters student in Computer Science, specializing in Machine Learning. He graduated from Georgia Tech with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and is in the BSMS program. Passionate about robotics and artificial intelligence, he has interned at McGraw-Hill and SEEK, an EdTech startup. Highly interested in entrepreneurship, he has also participated in Create X Startup Launch and two semesters of Ideas 2 Prototype. In his free time, he enjoys car karaoke, attempting to spot constellations in the night sky, and playing Mario Party.

Tavish Pattanayak is currently a PhD student in Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech. He completed his Masters in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Tech and Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from India in 2021 before working as a department manager with Flipkart in supply chain for a brief period of time. His area of research interests are aerodynamics, system design optimization, and human factors. He has previously interned at Delhi Metro in their mechanical department. He has also worked and led an electric commercial motorbike team, an agriculture start-up, few social volunteering clubs in various capacities during his undergraduate. A strong advocate of mental health in campuses, he is the founding member of student support team for two years working towards de-stigmatizing mental health and easier access to resources for those in need. This will be his third year as a LEAD coach. Outside work, Tavish loves to volunteer for various causes, hike, read novels, play badminton, and swim.

Vishnesh is currently a 4th year undergraduate student in Computer Science from Chennai, India. He is broadly interested in fields that lie at the intersection of computer science, linguistics, and psychology. His main interests are watching sitcoms, gambling his online chess elo, and sleeping. In his free time, he goes to classes, does research in natural language processing, and works as a teaching assistant for the College of Computing.

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -- A.A. Milne

Yanghui (Tina) is currently a second-year Evening MBA student at Scheller College of Business, where she serves as the Vice President of Operations for the Graduate Evening Management Students Board (GEMS), overseeing clubs/committees. She also served as an ambassador for the MBA program and as a Vice President in Women in Business Club in 2023. Professionally, Tina works as a Vendor Manager at Noviland Technologies, Inc. Previously, she taught Mandarin at Elite Scholars Academy and has worked in education for the past 10 years. Throughout her career, Tina has taught a mix of students across China and the U.S., including adults from Germany, England, Chili, and the U.S..

What inspired you to become a Leadership Fellow?

What drives me to be a leadership coach is the chance to genuinely make positive impacts on lives and make meaningful connections. Throughout my life, there have been moments when I yearned for guidance and mentorship. I was fortunate enough to find mentors who steered me through challenging times with wisdom and kindness. Now, it's my turn to pay it forward. I want to be the person who lights the path for others as they navigate their challenges.

Zain grew up in Lahore, Pakistan and is currently a 3rd year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. He completed his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and MSc in Advanced Process Integration and Design from the UK. Currently, Zain’s research is at the interface of electron microscopy and machine learning. Before starting his Ph.D., Zain worked in Pakistan as a Supply Chain management associate, where he used statistical time-series forecasting methods to forecast the prices of important commodities. Zain is an avid fan of cricket, and in his free time loves to work out, play table tennis and pool.