The University of Texas at Dallas Class of 2021 has overcome many challenges and will celebrate its academic achievements at fall commencement. Soon-to-be graduates from each of UT Dallas’ eight schools described the moments that defined their time as a Comet and how the University has prepared them for their next journey.
Rai Barnard
Major: visual and performing arts and biology
School of Arts and Humanities and School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Why did you choose to major in both dance and in biology?
I have loved dance since I was a child and became more invested in biological sciences during high school. By pursuing both in college I know I will have plenty of options if or when I choose to change my career path later in life.
What are some things you’re most proud of from your time at UTD?
The choreography I’ve made and presented at UTD. When I was applying to colleges a few years ago, I thought I would never be good enough to pursue any sort of artistic career. Now, in just the past couple of semesters, I created two original works and feel more determined than ever.
What are your plans?
To work in a clinical or research lab setting in Dallas and continue creating original dance/dance-theater productions. Next August I will be an artist-in-residence at Arts Mission Oak Cliff, where I’ll devise and present a project I’m developing now. Eventually, I’d like to earn a PhD in performance studies.
Emma Delight
Major: arts, technology, and emerging communication
School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication
Hometown: San Antonio
How has UTD prepared you for the future?
I expected college to be a lot of just classes and the like, but UTD had so much more. I found myself at event after event, so much so that I was hired as an event manager for ATEC. Being active gave me so many chances to take these things I was learning and turn them into professional opportunities. I always felt that I could find ways to be engaged with the community and professors in a very productive way.
Can you explain your interest in ATEC?
I was interested in storytelling, and through my time at ATEC this developed into an understanding of how media intersects critical theory, social-political issues and interpersonal relationships.
Do you have a favorite UTD memory?
One of the first big projects I worked on was with Fashioning Circuits. It was called Stich n’ Glitch and was a one-day event to learn about the history of feminist media art. I was a docent for the event and had the chance to share what I learned and meet many brilliant people. Being a part of such a large project gave me a lot of confidence to be able to participate in further opportunities, and it was just fun!
Ivan (Yun-Kuen) Luu
Major: neuroscience
School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Hometown: Arcadia, California
Did you always want to study neuroscience?
I knew very little about the subject before coming to UT Dallas. I became interested in neuroscience after visiting UTD and talking to enthusiastic professors, including Professor Tres Thompson. After that experience, I began looking into neuroscience and knew it was a great fit for me.
What do you think you’ll miss most about UTD?
My favorite UTD memory has to be the lazy weekends after a long week of classes and exams, trying new food places and exploring the Dallas-Fort Worth area with my friends and roommates. The friends I have made and the interactions with my classmates and professors during class will be the things that I will miss most about UTD.
What are your plans?
I am currently doing my gap year as a researcher at the California Institute of Technology before applying to medical school to become a physician.
SeLena Cosma BS’19
Master of Public Affairs
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Hometown: Austin, Texas
What are some opportunities you’ve had at UT Dallas?
UT Dallas has offered me some truly amazing opportunities through volunteering. I’ve had the pleasure to work with some great organizations that are making real changes, such as All Things Made New and Zoie’s Place. Also, I loved volunteering with the Center for Students in Recovery and hearing so many amazing stories of overcoming adversity, as well as the chance to meet Harnaam Kaur, a leader of body positivity, during one of their events.
What are your plans?
I always knew I was public-service motivated. Through my studies at UT Dallas, I narrowed down how I wanted to serve the public, which is through environmental initiatives. By focusing on this goal of making the world better, I was able to land an internship at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where I can help with environmental initiatives, such as restoring environmental justice to communities that have been left without it.
Paulo Najera
Major: software engineering
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Hometown: Dallas
How did you become interested in software engineering?
I grew up in a household with very little technology, so whenever I had electives in middle school and high school, I would always pick a computer class. After I finished basic training and got to advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, I was finally able to spend some of the money that I had saved up from my first paychecks in the Army. One of the first things that I bought was an HP Pavilion g6 Notebook. It was my very first laptop, and within two months, it already had a virus. I knew nothing about computers, but I was determined to teach myself and learn more.
What do you think you’ll miss the most about UTD?
Visiting the Military and Veteran Center and grabbing my cup of coffee. It was, and still is, a place that I felt was my own.
Navya Peddireddy
Major: healthcare studies
School of Interdisciplinary Studies
Hometown: Irving, Texas
How has UTD prepared you for the future?
The difficulty and rigor of my courses have allowed me to learn resilience. No matter how hard the courses got, I persevered. I feel like UTD has a strong support base through Peer-Led Team Learning and other educational resources. UTD made me feel like I could ask for help and confide in professors, and this will continue with me throughout my future education.
Do you have a favorite UTD memory?
Definitely the back-to-school events. I remember Silent Disco from freshman year, and it definitely was one of my favorite memories in finding new friends and getting closer to my roommates.
What are your plans?
I will be attending medical school [The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine] this summer.
Cesar Sanchez Sainz
Master of Science in energy management
Naveen Jindal School of Management
Hometown: La Paz, Bolivia
Why did you choose UT Dallas?
This was a dream for me as a petroleum engineer. Texas is known for being the energy capital of the world. When I had the opportunity to study abroad, I didn’t hesitate to choose UT Dallas. I wanted to balance my technical energy background with a business foundation to better understand both sides of the industry. The Naveen Jindal School of Management offers one of the best programs in my area and has opportunities to apply for internships or optional practical training.
How has UTD prepared you for the future?
UT Dallas not only prepared me professionally with the academic curriculum but also taught me how to improve my personal skills to find job opportunities. Now that I have gained a strong academic knowledge of the energy industry, I plan to stay in Texas and find a job that will help me grow professionally before returning to my country, where I’ll apply everything that I have learned to benefit my people.
Arezoo Shahrivarkevishahi
Doctor of Philosophy in chemistry
School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Hometown: Bandar-e Anzali, Gilan, Iran
How did you become interested in your field of study?
I always wanted to do research that has significant impact in people’s lives. Cancer therapy and vaccine development both are very important research topics. Devising strategies to help overcome their limitations drives my interest as a scientist. I chose UTD for my doctoral studies because of great research facilities and faculty in the chemistry and biochemistry department.
How has UTD helped to prepare you for the future?
UTD provided a highly collaborative environment and the research tools that I needed to follow my interests, and this has prepared me for my next steps as a scientist.
What are your plans?
I had two internships in 2021, at Pfizer and GC Therapeutics. Those experiences and the expertise I gained at UTD led to job offers from several companies, including Pfizer and Moderna. In November I joined Pfizer in the early clinical development research group.