Why did you choose Cornell?
I chose Cornell because of the hands on, experiential learning and collaborative environment. My first introduction to collaboration at Cornell was during the Precollege Studies Program. The summer before my senior year of high school I took the FWS: My Personal Essay and worked alongside my peers to edit one another’s essays. I enjoyed the class, which led me to research more about the Cornell Engineering program. When reading about alumni such as Paul Mensah ’94 and Robert Smith ’85, a common theme I noticed was how the undergraduate program provided them with a strong foundation to step into the world and excel. I was also drawn to the project team opportunities, the plethora of research groups, and diverse clubs on campus.
So far, each class I have taken at Cornell has incorporated collaboration in some form. My favorites have been ENGRD2190: Chemical Process Design & Analysis taught by Professor T. Michael Duncan, and AEM4660: Business Simulation taught by Professor Stephen Sauer. In ENGRD2190 calculation sessions, we drew numbers from a bucket to determine our teams for solving worksheet problems. Every week I worked with different classmates and strengthened my problem-solving skills. I attribute the close-knit community that the ChemE Class of 2026 has formed to those sessions. In the business simulation class, my team and I took over the management of a company that fell short of achieving the profit and growth targets using PI Experiential Learning (PIXL). We learned the elements of strategy and were challenged to come up with a successful long-term business strategy, collaborate effectively across business functions, and compete against other teams year after year to gain market share, generate revenue, and increase profitability. Through exercises that prompted team and individual reflection, we learned how we make decisions as a team, how we influence others, and how to maximize human capital.
Leadership positions?
I am one of the team leads for the AguaClara Project team, where we develop sustainable, gravity-powered water treatment technologies for communities around the world. We are currently developing an automated coagulant dosing system to eliminate the need for an operator at all times in communities with limited financial resources.
I am also one of the External Vice Presidents for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). NSBE’s mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community. Through NSBE, I implemented a freshman mentorship program alongside Mohamed Kane ’26 and Wesley DeCosta ’26 as Freshmen Representatives. As Academic Excellence Chairs, Emma Brown ‘25 and I collaborated with Professor Amal El-Ghazaly to create a series aimed at helping students succeed academically.
Currently, I organize professional development events and share resources with our members alongside Adigun Olusola ’25 as External Vice Presidents.
In addition, I am a Teaching Assistant for AEM2241: Finance taught by Professor Tibor Janosi. My advisor in freshman year, Professor Shivaun Archer, and my current advisor, Professor Susan Daniel, have been very supportive of my business interests.
They helped me incorporate the Dyson business minor into the ChemE curriculum. Their support allows me to excel in business courses, engage with professors outside of engineering, and gain teaching experience.
Major accomplishments as a leader?
As one of the External Vice Presidents for NSBE, I have attained over $30,000 in sponsorships for the chapter alongside Adigun Olusola ‘25 through presentations this school year. This funding has allowed us to award over $2,000 in scholarships to Black engineers, fund students’ travel to conferences so they can obtain research, internship, and full-time opportunities, and teach children in the Ithaca community about engineering. In January 2025, I also traveled to Honduras with the AguaClara project team to implement our ram pump, improve the existing water treatment plants, help with building a new plant, collaborate with community water boards, and demo our new app designed to help AguaClara plant operators digitize the documentation process of recording various water parameters and conditions. It was amazing to see our research benefit Honduran communities. This experience has brought new ideas and highlighted challenges to resolve as a team moving forward.
Advice for future leaders?
My advice to future leaders is to give back to communities, find ways to serve others, and value collaboration. The AguaClara project team is a space where I give back to communities. I applied to the Plantita Subteam because I wanted to help optimize the small-scale water treatment solutions. I loved that Plantita could be built anywhere with locally sourced materials, offering a smaller, more affordable alternative to traditional water treatment systems. I was grateful for the opportunity to help research solutions to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
NSBE is one space that allows me to serve engineers in the Cornell community, children in the Ithaca community, and prospective students all over the world. We create initiatives and sustain current programs aimed at supporting engineers. We also consistently participate in community service, teach children at the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, and hold a STEM Outreach Day for high school students. We partner with Cornell Engineering Admissions to reach out to students and share the opportunities at Cornell as well. As Maya Angelou once said, “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”
Post-graduation goals
After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I plan to pursue graduate studies. I have always been passionate about learning and particularly want to improve the health, stability, and longevity of others. My internships at ExxonMobil, thanks to the Cornell Career Fair, and DuPont, thanks to the NSBE Career Fair, reaffirmed my decision to attend graduate school before entering the industry. My research experience with Professor Jeffrey Varner, Professor Jillian Goldarb, and Demola Ogunnaike ‘22 has also shaped these aspirations. Additionally, I recently completed an energy module, Energy Economics for Engineers, taught by Professor Brian Bauer. This module deepened my interest in reducing emissions. I believe that by understanding and addressing the energy needs of our world, we can preserve human lives while protecting the environment for future generations.
Favorite Olin Hall Memory
My favorite Olin Hall memory took place in February 2025. I had a NSBE event in Olin Hall 165, a project team event in Olin Hall 155, and some of my friends from ChemE in Olin Hall 145 at the same time. While I loved the convenience of being able to stop by all three rooms without having to go to another building in the cold, freezing weather, it really defines what Olin Hall has meant to me—a space for growth and collaboration of all forms.
Olin Hall has been a place of my undergraduate firsts: I took my first prelim for ENGRI1120: Introduction to Chemical Engineering in Olin 255, and I gave my first speech when I ran for External Vice President for NSBE in Olin 155. Olin Hall has also been where my determination and passion to be a ChemE has been tested. Yet I have learned to embrace challenges and discomfort, realizing that is where true growth takes place. From late nights solving problem sets to watching the Super Bowl with my project team, Olin Hall has created so many memories and has really defined my undergraduate experience.