UCSD - University of California - San Diego

06/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/04/2026 09:17

Meet Some of Our Graduates Intent on Changing the World

Published Date

June 04, 2026

Article Content

As the Class of 2026 prepare for graduation and the next chapter of their lives, UC San Diego Today asked a few to share their student experiences - and how they are planning to change the world.

Anna My Nguyen '25, Master of Science in Engineering Sciences (Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering)

(Photo courtesy of Anna My Nguyen)

Earning her second UC San Diego degree, Anna My Nguyen stands proud as the first woman in her family with a graduate degree in engineering.

During her time on campus, Nguyen found her passion as part of UC Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees. UC LEADS prepares promising undergraduate students for advanced education in STEM. Through the program, Nguyen co-authored papers and traveled around the country to present her research at conferences. Providing a place where scholars were seen, supported and inspired to thrive, the program "solidified that I was meant to be at the intersection of mechanical engineering and biology in translational research," Nguyen says.

Her proudest accomplishment? Walking the stage at the 2025 Jacobs School of Engineering Ring Ceremony when she received her B.S. Nguyen represented both her hard work and her culture, wearing the national garment of Vietnam, an áo dài, as a tribute to her heritage. "With every step, I remembered all those who supported me through this journey: my older brother, my mom, my dad, my maternal grandparents and my paternal grandfather," she shares.

Nguyen looks forward to continuing her education with a PhD in bioengineering at UC San Diego, and plans to pursue a career as a researcher in therapeutic and diagnostic devices. Inspired by her previous professors, Nguyen hopes to mentor the next generation of students and scientists.

Hamzah Kerdi, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Public Law) | Minor in Middle East Studies

(Photo courtesy of Hamzah Kerdi)

Hamzah Kerdi truly made the most of his time on campus. While in high school, he earned an associate's degree from Coastline College in Orange County, then earned his B.A. at UC San Diego with a 3.98 GPA. With experience completing policy work in Washington, D.C., and building a community that he truly loves, "it felt like confirmation that the bet I made on myself paid off," he says.

Kerdi's studies opened doors he hadn't imagined were possible, including meeting President Barack Obama at the Voyager Summit in December 2025, spending a summer fully funded as a Public Policy Leadership & Summer Institute Fellow on the East Coast and flying to Spain to work with non-governmental organizations on migrant health issues. "None of that happens without UC San Diego," he states. "This university gave me the foundation, the credentials, and honestly the belief that someone like me, a kid who was doing college homework at a high school lunch table, belonged in these amazing experiences."

Kerdi plans to dedicate his career to economic development and poverty reduction. He has two missions: figuring out what community-driven change looks like on the ground and how policy can accelerate it. In pursuit of this, he will begin attending Harvard Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University to earn a Master of Public Policy, concentrating in Political and Economic Development while working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Priscilla King Gray Center for Social Impact.

"I don't have illusions about solving poverty, but I do intend to spend my career chipping away at the systems that perpetuate it," Kerdi says. "The thread running through all of it is the same: Access, equity, and the belief that where you start should never determine how far you go.

Sasha Sypher, Master of Science in Marine Biology

(Photo courtesy by Sasha Sypher)

"I've really grown to love my lab and place at Scripps Institution of Oceanography," Sypher says. "I'm still excited for what comes next and thankful for the opportunities that shaped this chapter of my life."

Advocating for herself as a young woman in science, Sypher found her confidence and let the quality of her work and dedication demonstrate her commitment as a researcher. This commitment was showcased in one of her proudest moments: Attending the Southern California Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting to give her first solo research talk, for which she received the best student paper/oral presentation award.

With her involvement in the Surfrider Foundation Club and the Scripps Graduate Student Council, Sypher helped organize outreach initiatives focused on coastal conservation and advocated for master's students as a council representative.

Sypher's biggest aspiration is to continue her research and she hopes to return to Scripps one day to earn her Ph.D. "I love the research I do and hope to keep building on my work in marine parasitology and ecology," she says. "Long term, I want to contribute to both scientific research and environmental outreach to build a career centered around protecting coastal ecosystems and teaching."

Zahra Amalia Syarifah, Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

(Photo courtesy of Zahra Amalia Syarifah)

Zahra Amalia Syarifah's UC San Diego journey began at her home in Indonesia.

Part of an eight-person cohort in the Department of Sociology, Syarifah began her degree in fall 2020, participating in classes online despite the 15-hour time difference. Syarifah woke up at 2 a.m. to attend class and didn't meet her professors and peers face to face until fall 2021.

After moving to San Diego, Syarifah took every opportunity to meet as many people as she could, going to events that included everything from apple picking to a carne asada cookout. "From the day I attended my first Zoom class to the day I defended my dissertation, my cohort remained the rock that kept me grounded," she says.

A big part of her experience on campus was her role as a teaching assistant because of the joy she finds in helping students. "I am very honored to have the opportunity to play a part in their academic journey and to also learn new things from them," she says.

Syarifah hopes to continue bridging research and policymaking, focusing on social welfare policy to bring education to her own students and the world.

Eliana Hernandez, Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies

(Photo courtesy of Eliana Hernandez)

Hernandez's experience on campus has been defined by her ability to foster community, both for herself and her students.

While earning her master's degree, Hernandez, born and raised in the Bay Area, reconnected with her Indigenous roots by learning her ancestral language. She also joined the women's rugby team, her first time as a student-athlete, and served as a teaching assistant for Marshall College's Dimensions of Culture program. In this role, Hernandez developed lesson plans, taught and connected with nearly 100 students. "My teaching experience has deepened and impacted my own work and research so much," she shares.

The first in her family to earn an advanced degree, Hernandez plans to continue teaching in some capacity. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in ethnic studies at UC San Diego and hopes to become a published author of open-access books to continue teaching outside of the classroom. Regardless, Hernandez says, "I plan to continue to be in community wherever I am and to work for the future generations and be of service to my people."

Hana Tjendrawasi, Bachelor of Science in Data Science

(Photo courtesy of Hana Tjendrawasi)

"UC San Diego has shaped so much of who I am, not just academically, but personally," Hana Tjendrawasi shares. "I'm proud of how much I've grown and at the same time, it feels like I'm just getting started."

Through her involvement in hands-on projects and community work in data science, Tjendrawasi found her voice in the HDSI Lab 3.0, a hands-on experiential learning lab where undergraduates design robotics, circuits and data science projects that spark STEM curiosity in K-12 students. While at the lab, she met her mentor Saura Naderi, the technical advisor and technical content developer for data science programs. "She created an environment that emphasized learning by doing and making data science more accessible and creative," Tjendrawasi says.

Working on projects that combined software, hardware and community outreach, Tjendrawasi found leading STEM activities for K-12 students to be most meaningful, introducing data science concepts through creative outlets such as building interactive systems. This helped her grow "as both a builder and a communicator, and reinforced my passion for making technology more inclusive," she says.

Tjendrawasi's proudest moment was when she spoke in 2024 at the launch of the Halıcıoğlu School of Data Science and Computing, UC San Diego's newest school. Representing the student perspective, Tjendrawasi shared how important it is for data science to be inclusive and interdisciplinary. "Speaking at the event felt like a full-circle moment; it reflected how far I had come, from feeling uncertain about my place in this field to being able to confidently speak about its future," she says.

After graduating, Tjendrawasi plans to pursue a career bridging technology, creativity and real-world impact. Taking her own experiences into account, she hopes to make technology more accessible and inclusive for others

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