This is Lassonde

Following your passion to create your own educational experience

In this episode, we meet Connor Dear, a Software Engineering Alumnus. He tells us how Canadian Astronaut, Chris Hadfield, inspired him to pursue engineering, which led him to the Space Engineering program at Lassonde. He then describes his undergraduate student journey, how he caught the software engineering bug, and assures other students that it’s okay to switch programs if they discover a new passion. He also emphasizes the value of the university community and the importance of collaboration.

From Lassonde to Silicon Valley - Mahrus Kazi’s Journey

Mahrus Kazi is a Lassonde Alumnus from the Electrical Engineering program currently working as an Automation Engineer at Apple. In this episode, he describes how joining a FIRST Robotics team in high school sparked his passion for engineering and talks about the impact that a mentor can have on your future.
He then discusses his undergraduate experience, highlighting how taking part in the annual Lassonde Silicon Valley Tech Tour led him to a co-op at Tesla and living and working in California. Finally, he tells us how he landed his current role at Apple and reveals his future aspirations.

Making the most of the undergraduate experience

Saiba Trisa is a recent grad of the Computer Engineering program at Lassonde. In this episode, she talks about her experience on campus as an international student from Dubai, and how the Lassonde community supported her. She also gives advice to students and talks about what they can expect during their final-year capstone project and how to make the most of the experience. Finally, she tells us about her 16-month co-op experience with Hydro One and how it has helped prepare her for the next stage of her engineering career.
 

Kanishk Singh and how Lassonde led him to his dream job at the UN

In this episode, we meet Kanishk Singh, who takes us on a journey as he discusses how his interest in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SGDs) led him to the Civil Engineering and International Development program at Lassonde. He then tells us how his education played a role in landing his dream job at the United Nations in Denmark and gives us a look into what a day at the UN looks like. Finally, he describes how he caught the ‘travel bug’ from participating in experiential learning opportunities at Lassonde and gives advice to current students on how to make the most out of their university experience.

Looking Beyond Technical Solutions to Foster Change

Theresa Nguyen is a Lassonde Alumna with a dual degree in Mechanical Engineering and International Development, currently working as a Junior Mechanical Engineer at a sustainable startup company in Portland, Maine.
 
In this episode, she explains how a desire to create societal change and combine her love of politics with technical skills led her to complete the dual degree program. She also discusses how government policy and technical solutions can work together to solve complex issues and gives advice to high school students about how they can combine their passions with engineering.

Advocating for inclusivity in STEM with Gbemisola

Gbemisola Akerele is a Lassonde student currently finishing her 4th year in the Computer Science program. In this episode, she discusses how her mother’s mobility issues inspired her to develop a fitness app for people with disabilities as her final year capstone project. We also learn about her involvement with Lassonde’s k2i academy, and how she is working to bring STEM education to underrepresented communities, such as girls and Black youth. She also discusses her plans for the future, and how she hopes to bring awareness to the technical innovations of Africa.

Anson Thomas and Finding Your “A-ha” Moment

Anson Thomas is an alumnus from Lassonde’s Civil Engineering program. He is currently working as a project coordinator for light-rail transit (LRT). This week, we sit down to talk with him about how he is applying his Lassonde education in the "real world".
 
Anson shares his “a-ha" moment with us – a time in his childhood that helped him realize that he wanted to connect people and cities – which led him to pursue civil engineering.

From York to the Software Industry with Alison Evans Adnani

Alison Evans Adnani is the senior program lead for the Dev Degree team at Shopify. She has more than 25 years of experience as a developer and lead of education and training for global technology companies.
This week, Alison sits down with us to discuss Dev Degree, a four-year integrated learning program offered by the Lassonde School of Engineering and Shopify, as well as her own journey from computer science at York to the software industry.