The Department of Computer Science Buddy Mentor Program began in Spring 2023. CS Buddy Mentors work with first year CS students to share their experience and connect CS Buddy Mentees to the campus community. The purpose of the CS Buddy Mentor Program is to 1)create a sense of social belonging and community, 2) develop persistence and self-efficacy, and 3) learn skills to succeed in and out of class.
Elbaraa Abdalla
Elbaraa is pursuing the BS in Computer Science. Elbaraa became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is an CS undergraduate teaching assistant (UGTA) for CSC 210 and is involved in the Chess Club.
Hometown: Egypt
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to be a mentor to gain new experiences in leadership, learn how to organize impactful events, and create a positive and engaging environment for both new and current CS students. Additionally, I’m eager to share lesser-known resources and spread valuable information to help students succeed.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? The opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students' academic journeys by providing guidance and sharing resources.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Web Dev, Machine Learning
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy playing soccer and chess.
Hamad Ayaz
Hamad is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Information, Science, Technology and the Arts (ISTA). Hamad became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is an CS undergraduate teaching assistant (UGTA) for CSC 345 and plays intramural soccer (team name: Cantankerous Capybaras).
Hometown: Tubli, Southern Governate, Bahrain
Why did you want to be a mentor? I chose to become a mentor because I enjoy meeting new people and forming connections. I'm passionate about assisting others and sharing the knowledge I've gained throughout my time in the CS department.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part about mentoring is the opportunity to help others overcome challenges and succeed in their studies and personal goals. It's incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact I can make on someone's educational journey.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am passionate about my studies and plan to pursue a master's degree in computer science. I am currently enhancing my portfolio with internships and additional skills. I thoroughly enjoy working as a software developer and managing business operations.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy exploring and travelling to different countries. When I'm free, i play the piano and work on making my car faster.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamad-ayaz-53629830a/
Discord: hmdayz#0120
Yzaiah Guillen
Yzaiah is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Military Science and Leadership. Yzaiah became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024. Yzaiah is a former CS Buddy Mentee (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024) and is involved in the Air Force Reserve Officer's Training Corps (AFROTC).
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I had many positive experiences as a mentee in clubs and programs including the CS Buddy Mentor Program; I want to be a mentor to help guide incoming and current students who are new to the CS department and boost confidence academically, socially, and mentally to achieve success as a student at the University of Arizona.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? One of my favorite parts of being a mentor is making connections. It is a pleasure to work with familiar and new faces and to be around those who will help you succeed in and out of the classroom, it is an amazing feeling seeing each other grow and learn.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Robotic engineering (mechanical side) , NASA, cyber security, pilot.
Interesting things about yourself: In my free time I enjoy listening to music, working out, or going out with friends. I'm also a huge car guy and enjoy working on my cars.
Instagram: @zaiah_ydiaz
Email: yzaiahg@arizona.edu
Sophia Harms
Sophia is pursuing the BS in Computer Science. Sophia became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023. Sophia is a former CS Buddy Mentee (Spring 2023) and is a CS UGTA for CSC 210.
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I was a mentee the first semester the program was created and I built connections in the department with peers and faculty that still benefit me. My mentor also provided me with support I was lacking my freshman year, I joined to help others get that extra support and confidence boost that has made my time in the CS department so much more rewarding.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I absolutely love connecting with my peers and seeing their confidence grow over their first year. I understand how challenging and daunting this program is and it makes me so happy to be able to make the start less rocky for new members. Sometimes all you need to pick yourself back up after a rough test is a cheerleader and friend in your corner, and I will happily fill that role!
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Cloud computing and working cyber security through it.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy reading, playing video games, and camping in my free time.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-harms-308786263
Discord: sophi_bug#0115
Praneel Kaul
Praneel is pursuing the BS in Computer Science. Praneel became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is involved in the UA Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) club, elected to a club position for Fall 2024.
Hometown: Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Why did you want to be a mentor? I want to be a mentor to help students achieve a growth mindset, and mental wealth.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part is meeting new people!
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Robotics Engineer
Interesting things about yourself: I love ARG'S (Alternate Reality Games), any kind of horror in general. Talk to me about these things, and i'll be an open book to you! ;)
Aaron Lam
Aaron is pursuing the BS in Computer Science. Aaron joined the CS Buddy Mentor Program as a mentee in the 2023-24 academic year. He became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is involved in UA Physiology Club, Chinese Student Association, Honors College's PATH mentorship program (as a mentee), and doing research in Prof. Marvin Slepian's research lab. Outside of campus, Aaron is engaged in the local Learn-to-Skate USA chapter, which teaches youth to figure skate.
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I want to be a mentor to help students smoothly transition into college life, as well as find their community on campus!
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part of being a mentor is helping students feel welcomed in their new community at the University of Arizona!
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am interested in the intersection of healthcare with computer science, and I hope to eventually use my computer science skills to improve healthcare in my career.
Interesting things about yourself: During my free time, I enjoy reading and language learning.
Eva Lesko
Eva is pursuing the BS in Computer Science. Eva became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024.
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Why did you want to be a mentor? I’m all about helping people and sharing knowledge, so being a mentor is a natural fit for me! It’s rewarding to support others in their growth, whether that’s through answering questions, offering guidance, or just having a thoughtful conversation.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I'm looking forward to watching the students under my care flourish in their intended field of CS.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: My career goals are to become a TA, get an internship in CS, and to work at PayPal.
Interesting things about yourself: I've worked in maintenance for just under a year, I did Kung Fu for 10 years, and am an avid amateur volleyball player.
Instagram: @evaxlesko
Caleb McKinley
Caleb is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Business Administration. Caleb became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023 and is involved in the UA Links Junior Honorary, is an Resident Assistant (RA), and a CS Course Coordinator-in-training for CSC 101.
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois
Why did you want to be a mentor? I became a mentor for incoming students and returning students to the Computer Science program to have as a resource. Both students and student mentors can bring insight through this program.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? Some of my favorite aspects is the amount of new people and conversations you'll have in this program.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I want to continue my degree and pursue a Masters in Data Analytics.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy reading on my downtime if I can. I also like to find new music to listen too. I also like to find local places to eat and go to.
Discord: calebmckinley5
Mercedes Ortiz
Mercedes is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Communication. Mercedes became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023 and is involved in SPURS Honorary.
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I remember feeling overwhelmed and out of place as an underclassman; I want to offer guidance and support to those entering the program who may be experiencing similar feelings. I've benefited as both a mentee and a mentor in other campus organizations and I am excited about extending my involvement within the CS department.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I love being able to connect with people and serve as a support system in both their academic journey and personal growth.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I want to pursue a career involving data science and analytics, with a specific focus on partnering with non-profit organizations to leverage data analytics to further their mission in making some form of a positive impact.
Interesting things about yourself: I will be working in the OHAIRE Lab this year helping to evaluate the effects of service dogs on veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. As well as working with the Bio/Diversity project to help develop data science based curriculum at schools here in Tucson! In my free time, I enjoy baking cinnamon rolls, reading, and spending time with my foster dog, Virgil!
Discord: @mercedes._.ortiz
Nathan Osborne
Nathan is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Systems Engineering. Nathan became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023 and is working as an intern at Rincon Research. Nathan was a CS Buddy Mentee in Spring 2023.
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to be a mentor because I understand the importance of community when starting the CS program at UA. As a previous mentee of the program I really want this program to continue to continue and grow to fully support the incoming CS students.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part is to be able to be a point of contact into the CS program for questions on how the U of A works and all of the interesting things that are available. I also love to see my mentees grow and continuously developed their skills throughout the semester.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Robotics, web development, space(would love to work at nasa/have the chance to go to space, and would like to somehow end up doing field work/working in the industry.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy hiking, photography, games(board games and video games), and playing soccer. I play on a local soccer team(neighborhood skill level) and plan to play some sports with UA intramural.
Discord: thechameleon_
Instagram: @nateo159
Email: nosborne@arizona.edu
Mariela Ramirez
Mariela is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Spanish. Mariela became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is a Course Coordinator for CSC 210, Software Development.
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I want to help others feel welcomed into the CS department and make their experience in the major a little bit easier!
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part is inspiring others to engage in our community so they can learn more and share what they know, so even more people can take advantage of the opportunities at the CS department and at the U of A.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Algorithm design and analysis, databases and automata. I hope to continue my studies at the UofA after I graduate to hopefully complete my masters in Computer Science! I would also like to someday become a Computer Science professor.
Interesting things about yourself: I love to watch a lot of movies/shows and starting to get into gaming and board games too!
Instagram: @marielaramireez
LinkedIn: mar-ramirez8
Tatiana Rastoskueva
Tatiana is pursuing dual majors: BS in Computer Science and Mathematics with a minor in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Tatiana joined the CS Buddy Mentor Program as a mentee in the 2023-24 academic year. Tatiana became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is involved in the Women in Information and Computer Science club.
Hometown: Gilroy, California
Why did you want to be a mentor? I want to be a mentor because the CS Buddy Mentor program helped me to socialize within the CS department over the last year.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part of being a mentor is helping new CS students adapt to university life and the field of computer science.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am interested in neural networks, computer architecture, and low-level programming.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy reading during my free time. Usually, I read Russian literature.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trastoskueva
MohammadHossein Rezaei
MohammadHossein is pursuing the BS in Computer Science and Mathematics (dual major) with a minor in Linguistics. MohammadHossein became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023 and is the Tech Lead for the Google Developer Student Club.
Hometown: Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to become a mentor so that I could share my experience and knowledge with incoming students, assisting them in finding their path in CS and taking advantage of the numerous opportunities available on campus.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? "I enjoy being able to help my mentees whenever they are in need; it makes me satisfied to have a part in someone's success. Also, one of my favorite parts of being a mentor is making connections with my mentees."
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am highly interested in Machine Learning and particularly natural language processing (NLP), which enables the interaction of humans and computers via language. I am planning to go to graduate school after my bachelor's to do more research in NLP before joining the industry.
Interesting things about yourself: I have a strong interest in music. I enjoy listening to a variety of musical genres, but classical music is my favorite. In my free time, I also play the piano. Additionally, I enjoy going on any kind of outdoor adventure, particularly cycling, hiking, and camping.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrezaei/
Discord: mhr2004
Instagram: rezaei82
Rey Sanayei
Rey is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Statistics and Data Science. Rey became a mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Rey is a CS Course Coordinator and involved in Google Developer Student Club, Software Engineering Club, UA Campus Pantry, and SensorLab.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to become a mentor because I am passionate about helping newly-admitted students succeed in their studies by sharing my knowledge and experiences in the field of Computer Science. By doing so, I hope to assist them in utilizing the available resources and achieving their desired goals.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part about being a mentor is connecting with my mentees and being able to guide them toward the resources they need to succeed. Seeing them progress and achieve their goals with my help is rewarding.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision.
Interesting things about yourself: During my free time, I have various interests that keep me busy. I love soccer, so I spend a decent amount of time playing the game, watching matches, playing FIFA, and supporting Real Madrid. I also have a passion for music, and I listen to a diverse range of genres in many different languages, from rap to classical to rock to pop. Additionally, I am a sneaker enthusiast and collector. Lastly, I love scuba diving and hope to get certified after graduation.
Discord: @Realrey99#7412
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsanayei/
Miro Vanek
Miro is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with minors in Japanese Language and Game Design & Development. Miro became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is a Course Coordinator for CSC 110, Introduction to Computer Programming I.
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to help encourage new students to continue pursuing a degree in Computer Science.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part is interacting with mentees and helping them grow as students.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Software Engineering, in the future I hope to become a Computer Science lecturer at a University.
Interesting things about yourself: In my free time, I like to play Magic: the Gathering Commander and I like to play a wide variety of video games.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miro-vanek/
Eric Yoon
Eric is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Statistics and Data Science. Eric became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2024 and is involved in intramural sports (basketball, spikeball, football) and is the Vice President of Zeta Beta Tau.
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Why did you want to be a mentor? As a freshman I made many mistakes as I did not pursue the right guidance. Being a mentor gives me the chance to guide those who are in the same spot I was.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Data science as a whole, but not fully sure of where I would like my career to head toward specifically.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy playing basketball at the rec center, playing xbox, working out, and I am VP of a fraternity on campus.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-yoon-146b3a284/
Brooke Adkins
Brooke is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Statistics and Data Science. Brooke became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Brooke is an undergraduate CS TA (CSC 110) and involved in Ramblers Adventure Club, Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers, and Theta Tau Engineering Fraternity.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to connect with other students in the major and be apart of a community.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I enjoy getting to know new people and listening to their experiences.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Machine Learning, Data Science, Electrical Engineering
Interesting things about yourself: I'm a passionate outdoor adventurer, including river rafting, backpacking, rock climbing, and canyoneering. I also enjoy running and hitting the gym.
Nishant Athawale
Nishant is pursuing two majors: BS in Computer Science and Information, Science and Technology. Nishant became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Nishant is a CS Teaching Assistant and involved in the International Student Community and Residence Hall Community as a Resident Assistant.
Why did you want to be a mentor? Joining a university can be very overwhelming as an international student. I became a mentor to help out fellow CS students figure out the university life and CS major. Something, I struggled figuring out myself during my initial semesters.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? Hosting events and interacting with students.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Computer Systems and working in the Industry.
Interesting things about yourself: I am an avid hiker and a karaoke aficionado.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishant-athawale/
Kaushal Bhat
Kaushal is pursuing two degrees: BS in Computer Science and BSBA in Management Information Systems. Kaushal became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Beyza is involved in Greek Life and plays intramural basketball.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I remember feeling lost and overwhelmed as an underclassman; having a peer a little further along in this journey to provide guidance would have meant a lot to me, so I want to provide that for the fresh blood.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part about being a mentor is helping newer CS students feel like they have a better sense of what to expect and what work they need to do on their end to maximize their chances of achieving their goals.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: No specific areas of interest yet; I'm hoping to narrow that down with more experience in the field. My short-term career goal is to convert my upcoming return internship into a full-time offer and learn as much as I can in my first couple years in industry, then to follow where my limbic system takes me from there. Long term, I hope to be involved in the high-level ideation and design of tech that I find interesting and impactful.
Interesting things about yourself: In my free time, I like playing basketball, making and listening to music, and watching TV.
Instagram: @kaushal_bhat
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaushalbhat/
Nimet Beyza Bozdag
Beyza is pursuing two majors: BS in Computer Science and Mathematics (Computer Science Emphasis). Beyza became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Beyza is involved in the Women in Information and Computer Science Club (WICS), CS Ambassadors, Volunteer Research, WISE Mentorship Program (Mentee), and Rewriting the Code.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to be a mentor to be able to support others as I would have liked to coming into the program as a freshmen. I've also been involved with several mentorship programs and non-profit organizations that helped me throughout my undergraduate career and wanted to pay it forward by becoming a mentor myself.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I enjoy helping others and seeing them progress faster through the support and resources I am able to provide. Being a mentor also allows me to connect with many other people in the department, whether that be mentees, other mentors, staff or faculty and I really appreciate that.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am interested in pursuing Machine Learning in grad school, and planning to apply for Ph.D. programs next year. I hope to work as a researcher in the industry in the future.
Interesting things about yourself: In my free time I like to paint, I mostly work with oil paint. I've also dabbled in some photography, and have been trying to get into video editing/content creation.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimet-beyza-bozdag/
Jackson Covey
Jackson is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Chinese Language and became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Jackson is an undergraduate CS TA, CS Tutor and is a member of UnderskoreUA, Chinese Student Association (CSA), and Wildcat Archery.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to offer guidance to pre-major students because when I was there 3 years ago, I had no idea what I was doing, or how this major really worked. I only really discovered that after getting involved in the department with being a Teaching Assistant. I think if I had a mentor back then, I would have done better academically, and been more prepared moving into the major.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I really enjoy getting to know the mentee’s. Everyone who majors in computer science is different, and getting to know them is really fun.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Web Development & be able to work from home.
Interesting things about yourself: I ride a Segway.
Discord: @jackson_horizon
Brandon Good (Alumni Spring 2023)
Brandon is pursuing two majors: BS in Computer Science and Neuroscience and Cognitive Science with a minor in Biochemistry. Brandon became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Brandon is involved in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Association of Students (NSCSAS), NSCS Ambassadors, NSCS Peer Mentoring, and Student Ministry Team at the Newman Center.
Why did you want to be a mentor? Joining the Computer Science program over the pandemic, it was really difficult to find ways to get involved and meet peers. I really wanted to be a mentor to help facilitate interactions among students that will benefit us all for years to come.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part about being a mentor is forming friendships that can last for years!
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Medical devices, fitness, health & wellness, embedded systems
The 'dream' would be to work on health-centered applications for a consumer product, like the Apple Watch.
Interesting things about yourself: Outside of school, I really enjoy reading, going to the gym, and running. I also have a photography business that I do on the side!
Email: brandongood@arizona.edu
Instagram: brandongood_
Kapua Ioane (Alumni Fall 2023)
Kapua is pursuing two degrees: BA in Computer Science and BS in Information Science Technology with a minor in American Sign Language. Kapua became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. Kapua is also involved in College of Science Ambassadors, Computer Science Ambassadors, is a Course Coordinator for CSC 120, and is a skater in Tucson Roller Derby League!
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to be a mentor because I like meeting other people in CS and learning about all the cool things they do!
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My absolute favorite thing about being a mentor is meeting and becoming friends with the mentees! I also love getting to work and hang out with the other mentors.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I'm actually really interested in Human Computer Interaction and Artificial Reality. When I graduate, I'm planning on going into Computer Science Education and/or Outreach.
Interesting things about yourself: I'm often described by m friends and fairly level-headed and understanding. However, it's because I have a really healthy outlet of releasing anger and frustration. I am a skater on the Tucson Roller Derby League! Catch me out on the rink: Lilo N Stitches #256
Please feel free to contact me on Discord (desert_Llama#5256)or Instagram (@kapuna_matata)
Honor Jang (Alumni Spring 2024)
Honor is pursuing the BS in Computer Science and Biochemistry (dual major). Honor became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023 and is a UGTA for CSC 352 and involved in several student groups including the Creative Writing Club (UA affiliated) and TGen (non-UA).
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Why did you want to be a mentor? I want to help new students put their best foot forward when heading into the CS major. There's a lot of tips and tricks to give to you guys, too, and I'd love to pass them down!
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? That's what I'd like to find out, since this is my first time being one! :)
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Application of CS in bioinformatics and life science labs; researcher or college professor.
Interesting things about yourself: I love playing video games and trading card games, drawing, animating, and hanging out with my cat! I'm also the president of the Creative Writing Club. :).
Discord: Honor J#8897
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/honor-jang-2b0058273
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/windsweptskies
Shreyas Khandekar (Alumni Spring 2023)
Shreyas is pursuing two degrees: BS in Computer Science and BSBA in Management Information Systems. Shreyas became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. Shreyas is involved in UArizona UG Research, ACM, and WICS.
Why did you want to be a mentor? Coming in to college its easy to feel lost, I sure did. I wanted to help incoming freshmen not feel lost by showing them the ropes to how college life works and help them succeed.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I love being able to connect with my mentees by sharing my personal experiences. And it makes me especially fulfilled when the experiences I share helps them achieve whatever goal they wanted to.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Interested in - High Performance Computing, Project Management, Programming language evolution.
Career Goals - Harnessing my two degrees to amalgamate the management and technological sides of businesses and bridge the chasm between ideas and code.
Interesting things about yourself: I love to travel and do so every chance I get. I'm also a thrill seeker and a glutton for novel experiences. I'm into scuba diving, skiing, rock climbing, and I want to try skydiving next. I love music and am a trained singer as well.
Website: shreyaskhandekar.com
Daniel Lee (Alumni Spring 2023)
Daniel is pursuing two degrees: BS in Computer Science and BA in Economics. Daniel became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. Daniel is involved in the multicultural fraternity Omega Delta Phi and is a teacher for a local martial arts academy.
Why did you want to be a mentor? Throughout my time in college, I had mentors who helped me through a lot of stuff. I'd really like to give back and allow my mentees to learn from my experience and grow themselves in the process.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I enjoy meeting other mentors and mentees. The feeling of being helpful is really nice.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I would like to be an entrepreneur someday as I love business, technology, and taking risks. After graduation I will be working at a VR Mental Health Startup developing therapies and other mental wellness experiences in virtual reality.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy playing basketball. I went super deep down the crypto rabbit hole between 2019 and 2021 and made tons of money before losing most of it.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielshulee/
Sayyed Faraz Mohseni (Alumni Summer 2023)
Faraz is pursuing two degrees: BA in Computer Science with a minor in Statistics and Data Science and BS in Mathematics (Computer Science Emphasis). Faraz became a CS Buddy Mentor in Spring 2023. Faraz is involved in several organizations on- and off-campus including UA Philosophy Club, UA Students for Justice in Palestine, and Tucson Iranian Cultural Association.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to help students to be more involved on campus.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? Helping other students.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I'm interested in NLP within the CS domains. My goal is to have a career in computational finance.
Interesting things about yourself: I'm interested in folklore, history and mythology. I read about these topics in my free time and I'm starting a podcast on the topic.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayyed-faraz-mohseni-0aabb116a/
Mahshad Parizi
Mahshad is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. Mahshad became a mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Mahshad is doing research with Prof. Todd Proebsting.
Why did you want to be a mentor? To make CS first-year students feel like they are supported and are not alone in this :)
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? Interacting with mentees, helping them with their struggles and learning from them and other mentors!
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am planning on getting a Master's in Computer Science and my area of interest is Machine Learning Algorithms.
Interesting things about yourself: I really enjoy outdoor activities, swimming, and going to the gym! But, if I'm not feeling like leaving home, I like reading poems or watching movies with my friends.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahshad-habibpourparizi-58414b244/
Leighanna Pipatanangkura (Alumni Spring 2023)
Leighanna is pursuing the BS in Computer Science and BA in East Asian Studies with a minor in Linguistics. Leighanna became a mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Leighanna is an undergraduate CS Course Coordinator and recently started the Accelerated Masters Program (AMP) in Human Language Technology.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to be a mentor to help incoming students with their transition to college with all the experiences I had so far!
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part about being a mentor is that I can get to know other mentors and mentees and create connections with them.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I've always been interested in how computers and language can interact, so I would love to put my CS degree and my passion in linguistics toward natural language processing.
Interesting things about yourself: During my free time, I like to crochet! I enjoy making hats for my friends and family.
Discord: mygreentae#3599
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighanna-pipatanangkura/
Alex Safayan
Alex is pursuing two majors: BS in Computer Science and Mathematics (Computer Science Emphasis). Alex became a mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Alex is an undergraduate CS Teaching Assistant, Resident Assistant, involved in the Honors Village Hall Council, Residence Hall Association, Eller AI Lab, W.A. Franke Honors College Marketing, and CATalyst Studios!
Why did you want to be a mentor? There are lots of things I wish I had known as a first year computer science major. As a mentor, I can help and advise mentees so that they have a smooth sailing first year!
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? Playing (i.e. beating) my mentees in chess.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I'm interested in human computer interaction, design, and generative art. I want to develop products that promote creativity in the world.
Interesting things about yourself: Since I was 13 years old, I have worked as a freelance 3D illustrator. My clients include Google, Pfizer, and Comcast. Portfolio: be.net/alexsafayan
Email: alexsafayan@arizona.edu
Vatsav Sethupathi (Alumni Fall 2023)
Vatsav is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with minors in Mathematics and Japanese. Vatsav became a CS Buddy Mentor in Fall 2023 and is involved in the UA Badminton Club. Vatsav has previously served as CS UGTA and Course Coordinator for several semesters.
Hometown: Pune, Maharashtra, India
Why did you want to be a mentor? Attending college in a different country was extremely daunting since it took a while to get used to a new country, let alone trying to figure out how the college system works. I wanted to be someone who could help new students start their amazing new journey by showing them the ropes and making the entire transition a bit easier :)
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? Learning about new fields and opportunities that I never knew about during my time here!
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: Natural Language Processing, Quality Engineering, and Lower-level computing
Interesting things about yourself: I love playing tennis and badminton (I've only just started), but when I'm not on the court, you can find me watching anime or reading manga. I also love learning languages (I'm on my sixth one) and I plan to travel a lot once I graduate from college!
Discord: bocchi14
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vatsav14/
Duke Speed (Alumni Fall 2023)
Duke is pursuing the BS in Computer Science and became a mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Duke is part of a student group planning to restart HackAZ, a member of the UA Chess Club, O-Stem and Residence Housing Association.
Why did you want to be a mentor? I wanted to be able to help newer students in their transition to a traditionally difficult major, as I had a rough time myself. Also, I wanted to connect students with resources around campus, as it took me quite a while to become as connected as I am.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? I love whenever I'm able to help guide a mentee through a process and offer them resources to make what would normally be an arduous process into something far less insurmountable.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I am very interested in the field of computational sustainability, and hope to one day be able to push that field a little bit further.
Interesting things about yourself: I've arm wrestled 7 different company representatives at events. I also unicycle! Still learning how to juggle, though.
Discord: @doisastir#6608
Instagram: @dukeisastir
Shyambhavi (Alumni Fall 2023)
Shyambhavi is pursuing the BS in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. Shyambhavi became a mentor in Spring 2023. In addition to being a mentor, Shyambhavi is involved in the core team and serves as Website Manager for Women in Information and Computer Science Club (WICS), is a member of Society of Women Engineers and OStem, CS Teaching Assistant, and doing research for the College of Engineering!
Why did you want to be a mentor? The reason why I wanted to be a mentor is that I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience to help others succeed. I believe in giving back and helping others, especially those who are starting out in a field that I am passionate about.
What is your favorite part about being a mentor? My favorite part is to support my mentees by sharing my experiences in the field and guide them. I also love hearing new perspectives from my mentees.
Areas of interest (CS) and career goals: I have enjoyed web and game development a lot in CS. My goal is to work in the industry after graduation and maybe pursue a Masters Degree later on.
Interesting things about yourself: I enjoy my free time eating out, playing golf, spending time with friends and watching TV. I also love to spend time dancing- I learned dancing for about 5 years.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shyambhavi/
Spring 2024 Kickoff
Mercedes Ortiz, introducing herself to the CS Buddy Mentor kickoff attendees.
Honor Jang, introducing herself to the CS Buddy Mentor kickoff attendees.
Rey Sanayei, introducing himself to the CS Buddy Mentor kickoff attendees.
MohammadHossein Rezaei, introducing himself to the CS Buddy Mentor kickoff attendees.
Eduardo, Mustafa, and Yzaiah, CS Buddy Mentees hanging out at the kickoff.
Group photo of some of the kickoff attendees.
Group photo of some of the kickoff attendees, silly poses.
Group photo of some kickoff attendees doing the wildcat hand signal 👌.
CS Buddy Mentor kickoff attendees chatting, eating 🍕, and feeling good!
In the wild, mentors and mentees often congregate in circles to talk about their classes and tell jokes. Notice the smiles and perfect circle formation.
V giving advice to a few mentees.
Another mentor and mentee circle! I told you they like to form these circles --- amazing to see out in nature!