Beach WIE Sessions 2025

Description: Advances in space technology drive innovation in communication, navigation, and space exploration. 

Moderator : Mahdi Yoozbashizadeh, CSULB Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Speakers:

Mozhdeh Najafabadi, Program Manager for Protected Tactical Satellites Communication , Space Force- Department of Defense

Jomya Lei, RF Products Manager, RocketLab

Joanna Moraza, Avionics Manufacturing Engineer, Vast

Description: Generative AI focuses on creating new content by learning patterns from existing data, and has many exciting applications

Moderator: Susan Nachawati, CSULB Part-time Lecturer, Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Speakers:

Deval Parikh, Principal Enterprise Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services

Sozen Ozkan-Grigoras, Senior AI Prompt Engineer, Spotter

Description: Construction that involves large-scale infrastructure projects are critical for public works and urban development.

Moderator: Amr Morsey, Assistant Professor, CSULB Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management

Speakers:

Melissa Hilsabeck, Capital Projects Coordinator, Port of Long Beach

 Description: Electrification of vehicles eliminates their carbon emissions, and offer a sustainable transportation alternative to hydrocarbon fuel-power. 

Moderator: Anna Lee, CSULB, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering

Speakers:

Megan Kaminski, Senior Range and Efficiency Engineer, Rivian

NK Ofodile, Head of Systems Engineering, AIBOT

Jessica Petty, Senior Manager, Emerging Issue Investigations, Hyundai Motor America

Description: Tips for setting yourself up now for leadership later in your career

Moderator: Hana Moshirvaziri, CSULB, Part-time Lecturer, Biomedical Engineering & Technical Program Manager at Medtronic

Speakers:

Natalie White, Principal Solutions Architect, AWS

Candace Givens, Sector Vice President Mission Assurance, NGAS, Northrop Grumman

Dinamarie Stefani, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, Outset Medical

Description: Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, are as important as technical skills for professional success

Moderator: Maryam Qudrat, CSULB, Full-time Lecturer, Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management

Speakers: 

Sanjana Gupta, Product Marketing Manager, Amazon

Ondine Beaufils, Senior engineering manager, Safran

Michaelyn Thomas, Program Manager, National Security Space, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Description: The integration of robotics with artificial intelligence will lead to limitless applications

Moderator : Emel Demircan, CSULB Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Speakers:

Emily Woodman-Nance, CEO & Co-Founder, At Their Side

Natalie Petouhoff, Senior Advisor, Applied Empathy in AI, Machani Robotics

​Description: The overwhelming volume of data generated in the digital age requires innovative management and analysis to extract insights

Moderator: Hailu Xu, CSULB Assistant Professor, Computer Engineering and Computer Science

Speakers:

Description: Infrastructure that is environmentally friendly, resource-efficient, and promote long-term ecological and societal benefits

Moderator: Shams Tanvir, CSULB Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management
 

Speakers:

Julia Ragragio Ruiz, Sustainability Director, Gensler

Anne Devine, Director of Global Supply Chain, Motive Energy

Dina Aryan-Zahlan, Deputy Executive Director, Development, Port of Los Angeles

Illary Archilla, President & CEO, Terravanta | Project Management, Construction Management

Description: Advanced materials engineered for their properties have a wide range of applications, such as Aerospace and Automotive Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Military, and Energy Systems.

Moderator: Neda KaramiMohammadi, CSULB Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Speakers:

Marisol Jablonski, HR Manager & EEO Coordinator, Hydroform USA

Cassandra Buru, Nikon

Description: Internships provide practical experience, industry exposure, and professional networking opportunities. They are a key to career readiness.

Moderator: Marina Crawford, Professional Development & Internship Specialist, CSULB

Speakers:

Caitlin Rubia, Lead Data Engineer at Chevron

Samantha Villa Floran, Space Systems Engineer at Northrop Grumman

Hope Daley-Babbit, Reliability & Machinery Engineering Team Lead at Chevron

Victoria Bravo, Ride, Safety, and Engineering at Universal Creative

Lyka Gutierrez, Certification Plan Owner at The Boeing Company

Juliana Resong, Senior BIM Project Lead at Southland Industries

Description: Who you know can be as important as what you know - a professional network can provide mentorship and industry insights

Moderator: Jennifer Johnson, Founder and Principal, Moreton Bay Advisory

Speakers:

Mariel Cisneros, Sr. Program Manager, Digital Engineering, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Dr. Kim Armstrong, Sr HRBP - BGS Engineering, Boeing

Debra Brennan Santos, (ret) Boeing/IAWA

 Description: Clean energy reduces pollution to the environment and mitigates anthropogenic climate change

Moderator: Jingyi Zeng CSULB Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Speakers:

Lucie Nurdin, Chemical Engineer - Lead Reactor Engineer, Terraform Industries

Susan Brennan, President and Founder, Susan Brennan Leadership

 Description: CET combines electrical engineering and computer science applications and their graduates are sought by many industries

Moderator: Ava Hedayatipour, CSULB Assitant Professor, Electrical Engineering

Speakers:

Delilah Nunez, Systems Director, The Aerospace Corporation

Mansi Tandon, Senior Manager, Embedded Software/Rivian

Carla Corl, Senior Software Engineer, Relativity

Description: Environmental engineers work on solutions to improve air and water quality, waste management, and sustainable practices. They are crucial for protecting the planet.

Moderator: Pitiporn Asvapathanagul, CSULB Professor, Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering Management

Speakers:

Manisha Dhawan, VP Strategic Projects, Applied Membranes Inc (AMI)

Shannon Lee, Senior Air Quality Engineering Manager, South Coast AQMD

Ana Licon, Project Executive, CDG Builders

Description: Why participating in active learning is so important - the case for getting involved

Moderator: Marwan Youssef, CSULB Professor of Practice—Beavers Endowed Chair for the Department of Civil Engineering & Construction Engineering

Speakers: 

Karen Abarca, Communication Systems Engineer, Northrop Grumman

Megan Schneider, Client Account Leadership / Director, Board of Directors, Accenture / Municipal Water District of Orange County

Rachel Trabert, Senior Systems Engineer, RocketLab

Description: Come hear from recent graduates who have made the transition from college to career

Moderator: Sergio Mendez, CSULB Associate Professor and Chair, CHE Undergraduate Advisor, Chemical Engineering

Speakers: 

Mariel Trajano, Information Security Analyst, Laserfiche

Janelisse Gussler, System Test Engineer, Northrop Grumman

Sofia Amalfitano, Project Engineer, McCarthy Builders

Madelyn Youngerman, Project Engineer, Swinerton

Description: Come hear from undergraduate engineering and computer science majors on transitioning from high school to a big university

Moderator: Janet Lavender, Founder & CEO of Well-Suited