Khoury Stories

Students. Faculty. Alumni. Community. These are our stories.

  • Samantha Olinsky

    Samantha Olinksy

      Affiliation:
    • Align Student

    Location: Boston

    After receiving her BFA from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Samantha Olinsky found herself working on apps and websites, and wanting to understand how to build them herself. She found that and much more through the Align program.

  • Mike Shah

    Mike Shah

      Affiliation:
    • Full Time Faculty

    Location: Boston

    As a pre-teen, playing video games wasn’t enough for Mike Shah; he needed to know how to make them himself. His first experiments in programming evolved into a larger fascination with tech, eventually leading him to a career in research and teaching.

  • Dian Wang

    Dian Wang

      Affiliation:
    • PhD Student

    Location: Boston

    Wanting to understand AI’s complexities, Dian Wang entered Khoury College’s PhD program, where he found support with his professors for his research at the intersection of machine learning and robotics.

  • Logan Stanhope

    Logan Stanhope

      Affiliation:
    • Undergraduate Student

    Location: Boston

    When Logan Stanhope was in high school, her dad encouraged her to pursue computer science to bridge her passions for math and problem solving. Now at Khoury College, she’s found a supportive community that’s helped her build confidence while she gains new skills.

  • Johanna Gunawan

    Johanna Gunawan

      Affiliation:
    • PhD Student

    Location: Boston

    For Johanna Gunawan, the Align program provided a transformative opportunity to pivot from a background in political science to a career in cybersecurity. Embracing Khoury College's interdisciplinary approach and supportive environment, she then went on to pursue her PhD.

  • Alice Koeninger

    Alice Koeninger

      Affiliation:
    • Align Student

    Location: Boston

    Writer and Align student Alice Koeninger is seeking a balanced career — one where she can use her creative and technical skills equally. Her time at Khoury College has shown her that this path is more than achievable.

  • Keith Bagley

    Keith Bagley

      Affiliation:
    • Align Faculty and Advisors

    Location: Boston

    Much like the Align students he teaches, Keith Bagley moved between careers before eventually pursuing his master’s in computer science. Now as the Director of Align Boston, he works hard to ensure that students are able to succeed in their own career transitions.

  • Jeongkyu Lee

      Affiliation:
    • Teaching Faculty

    Location: Silicon Valley

    While Jeongkyu Lee enjoyed aspects of his former role as a database administrator, he regretted not having many opportunities to engage with students. Now teaching at Khoury College, he runs a student research lab that bridges his passions for research and fostering student success.

  • Anshul Matthew

    Anshul Mathew

      Affiliation:
    • MS Student

    Location: Oakland

    For Anshul Mathew, proximity to industry is key. While pursuing his master’s degree at Northeastern’s Oakland campus, he’s taken advantage of the vibrant tech scene in the Bay Area to make new connections and advance his career.

  • Mara Helfer

    Mara Helfer

      Affiliation:
    • Undergraduate Student

    Location: Oakland

    As a Global Scholar, Mara Helfer spent her first fall semester on Northeastern’s Oakland campus, then transitioned to the London campus for the remainder of the academic year. Her first class with Professor Ellen Spertus helped build her computing confidence, and now she’s excited to continue her tech journey around the world.

  • Miguel Fuentes-Cabrera

    Miguel Fuentes-Cabrera

      Affiliation:
    • Teaching & Co-op Faculty

    Location: Oakland

    After years as a laboratory scientist, Miguel Fuentes-Cabrera realized that he enjoyed mentoring his students more than researching. As a professor at Northeastern's Oakland campus, he wants to open opportunities for students to explore their own curiosities.

  • Benjamin Shaar

    Benjamin Shaar

      Affiliation:
    • Undergraduate Student

    Location: Oakland

    By the time Benjamin Shaar came to Khoury College, he was a studied pianist with more than a decade of training. Now pursuing computer science, he wants to unlock the intersection between his two passions.

  • Ellen Spertus

    Ellen Spertus

      Affiliation:
    • Teaching Faculty

    Location: Oakland

    Ellen Spertus’s programming journey began in her childhood and led to a 10-year career as a research scientist at Google. While teaching at Northeastern’s Oakland campus, she encourages students to believe in their own potential for success, too.

  • Princewill Umeh

    Princewill Umeh

      Affiliation:
    • Align Student

    Location: Arlington

    After working at J.P. Morgan, Princewill Umeh wanted to explore his entrepreneurial ambitions outside of finance. The supportive environment he’s found in the Align program has helped prepare him for co-ops in CS, and for the future business he hopes to start.

  • Sami Rollins

    Sami Rollins

      Affiliation:
    • Teaching Faculty

    Location: Oakland

    When Sami Rollins started college, she had no idea she wanted to be a computer scientist. In her role as director of computing programs in Oakland, she enjoyed mentoring a diverse body of students who will uncover their passions.

  • Kristine Umeh

    Kristine Umeh

      Affiliation:
    • Align Student

    For most of her life, Kristine Umeh didn't see herself as a programmer. However, as she worked her way through the Align program, she surprised herself as she gained confidence working with code.