The Princeton University Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers
Meet the Board
(Civil and Environmental Engineering, ’27
Minor: Architecture & Engineering)
- Interests/Hobbies: Ceramics, traveling, and playing the violin
- Over the Summer I… Interned with a General Contracting and Construction Management company called Skanska, in Princeton, NJ. I worked on Dillon Gym and Class of 1986 Wellness Center, so I technically built the gym.
- NSBE Goals: To make everyone feel like they have a place at Princeton and cultivate community amongst other schools in the area.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Please reach out to us! We really enjoy talking to new members even if you are on the fence about engineering. We all needed help from upperclassmen and we want to do the same for you too. No one does Princeton alone.
(Electrical & Computer Engineering, ’27)
- Interests: I love playing the drums, soccer, and playing volleyball.
- Over the Summer I… was a research intern through the Princeton-Intel REU working on detecting hardware trojans using graph neural networks. I got to hear from Intel employees through weekly panels, as well as connect with an Intel mentor regarding my work over the summer and career prospects.
- NSBE Goals: My goal is for us to get more in touch with NSBE outside our orange bubble; to get connected on both the Regional and National level. Additionally, I would love to foster community and development amongst us as the Princeton NSBE Chapter. As our mission says, to increase the number of black engineers, so is my goal for our NSBE chapter. Providing as many opportunities to get us into the rooms that matter.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Talk to upperclassmen as much as you can. A resource to you that is closer in age and experience will be more valuable than you think when it comes to figuring out expectations about similar circumstances.
(Operations Research & Financial Engineering, ‘26)
Minors: Applications of Computing, Statistics & Machine Learning
- Interests: I enjoy powerlifting on the Princeton Powerlifting Team.
- Over the Summer I… worked as a Full Stack Engineer intern at Yahoo, where I helped build an in-house Dynamic Floor Model to replace a costly third-party bidding service. I developed and evaluated machine learning models including regression, forecasting, and reinforcement learning approaches to optimize real-time ad auction pricing with low latency. My work contributed to reducing licensing costs and improving Yahoo’s control over model performance, scalability, and feature development.
- NSBE Goals: To help others learn while learning from them, fostering collaboration, and contributing to the growth and impact of the NSBE community.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Reach out when you need help, socialize, and have fun!
(Electrical & Computer Engineering, ’26
Minor: Music)
- Interests: Singing, Violin, Painting
- Over the Summer I… Interned at GSI Helmholtz in Darmstadt, Germany
- NSBE Goals: More members and fun events!
- Advice for incoming Members: Make friends and email professors!
(Electrical & Computer Engineering, ’28
Intended Minor: OQDS)
- Interests: Tech Startups, Space Industry Policy, Line Dancing, Crocheting
- Over the Summer I… researched polycrystalline semiconductor quantum wells at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment (ACEE), studying how their structures affect photocurrent behavior and exploring applications for low-cost solar cells and photodetectors.
- NSBE Goals: I hope to engage more of the black engineering community to develop professional skills applicable to their major, while also providing more resources and space for interclass connections to thrive.
- Advice for incoming Members: Never discount a strong network and never be too proud to ask for help.
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
- Interests: Poetry, Calisthenics, Basketball
- Over the Summer I: Researched lasers in a photonics lab at Princeton and traveled to Egypt
- NSBE Goals: To inspire Black Engineers
- Advice for Incoming Members: Reach out to your peers and upperclassmen
Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Minors: African Studies and History
- Interests: Philology, Martial Arts, Poetry, Philosophy, The New Yorker
- Over the Summer I… Interned at McKinsey in New York.
- NSBE Goals: I want to share my experience and enjoy community as I finish the second half of my Princeton career.
- Advice for Incoming Members: This is a community ready to embrace you. If you are struggling, have questions, or you are just thinking forward…someone else had probably gone through it before you. Reach out, be zealous and curious about people and everything you invest your time in!
Computer Science ’25
Minor: Climate Science,
- Interests: Weather Modeling/Forecasting/Research, Fluid Mechanics, Musical Arrangement, Musical/Lyrical Analysis
- Over the Summer I: I did a summer research internship at the Hurricane Research Division in Miami FL with the NOAA Lapenta Internship program, where I helped evaluate next-generation hurricane models’ accuracy in forecasting hurricane strength/location and their secondary utility in predicting tornadic severe weather. Also, I began preparing a manuscript for publication, and for exhibition at future conferences regarding hurricane eyewall formation mechanisms & dynamics in conjunction with the Vecchi Research Group and scientists from the National Hurricane Center.
- NSBE Goals: Ensure that those with more-unique interests don’t feel left out, create a firmer sense of student-to-student mentorship, strengthen chapter collaboration with other chapters in our region to help guarantee increased academic prowess across institutions
- Advice for Incoming Members: If you’ve had a life-long interest in something, please just do it. Don’t feel forced to stray away from pursuing your dreams because it’s not particularly fashionable or something that brings in the most capital instantaneously. You’d be surprised how well things can turn out in your favor in spite of society’s expectations and ramblings.
- Interests/Hobbies: Singing, Dancing, Theatre, Electronics Design and Fabrication, Robotics, and Sustainable Power and Technologies
- Over the Summer I… Worked as a Software Development Intern at Amazon Web Services in Seattle, Washington in the Marketing Technology and Management Organization.
- NSBE Goals: My goal with NSBE is to create a welcoming and supportive community for Black engineers to learn, grow, and thrive, at Princeton and Beyond.
- Advice for Incoming Members: You are qualified, capable, and worthy. Learn the skills you want to learn, do the things you want to do, and seize the opportunities that come your way. We’ll cheer you on every step of the way!
Computer Science ’28
Minor: Statistics & Machine Learning
- Interests: Playing basketball, traveling, spending time with family/friends.
- Over the Summer I: Interned at JP Morgan Chase as a Risk Management Fellow.
- NSBE Goals: I would love to see as much representation as possible. We desperately need more black engineers and this is an empowering space to build that community.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Take advantage of every opportunity you can and don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to other members.
Tumi Ogunyankin
(Computer Science, ’27)
Minor: Material Science
- Interests/Hobbies: Video Editing, Crocheting, Sewing, Listening to Music, and Watching good movies and TV shows.
- Over the Summer I: Spent a lot of time with my family going to Mexico, amusement parks, and the beach. I also learned a lot about computer architecture and built some practical engineering skills by simulating, designing, fabricating, and assembling a digital circuit.
- NSBE Goal: My goal for NSBE is to create more engaging activities for the next generation of black engineers so that they can be encouraged and excited to pursue engineering as a career.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Always ask for help when you need it and form close bonds with other members because they will likely be your classmates.
Iman Bedru
(Electrical and Computer Engineering, ’28
Minors: Cognitive Science & Computer Science)
- Interests/Hobbies: Drawing, crocheting, dancing, reading, spending time with friends
- Over the Summer I… interned at Chumbaka in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- NSBE Goals: My goal for NSBE is to connect with other engineers and build a strong community.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Talk to older members! Asking for advice on things like classes or internships is extremely useful, so don’t miss the chance to!
Civil and Environmental Engineering 28′
Minors: Bioengineering and Architecture)
- Interests: Some of my interests and hobbies include traveling, listening to music, running, and watching movies with my family and friends.
- Over the Summer I… Over the summer, I traveled around the Caribbean with my family and developed my architecture portfolio, exploring how culture and environment shape design perspectives.
- NSBE Goals: My goal within NSBE is to strengthen our network by connecting members to top engineering firms and creating lasting professional opportunities. I also hope our events this year continue to empower and showcase the talent and excellence of the Black engineering community here on campus.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Always stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to explore courses or minors outside your major. Studying different subjects adds creativity and unique perspectives to engineering. Try not to worry or overthink too much, and remember to have fun!
(Operations Research & Financial Engineering, ’27
Minor: Finance & Urban Studies)
- Interests: Urban planning, Finance/investing, Trombone, Volleyball.
- Over the Summer… worked at an African Fashion Store where my aunt stocks her company’s beauty brand products, Ythera Beauty.
- NSBE Goals: To ensure that we are able to have all our programmed events and more that bring the black engineering community together.
- Advice for Incoming Members: Really take a second to appreciate that your are at Princeton and all the wonderful people you are surrounded by. Time flies here!