Are you interested in talking to a current master's student about Drexel's College of Computing & Informatics (CCI)? Our Graduate Dean's Ambassadors are here to welcome you to the CCI community, share their first-hand knowledge about the CCI academic experience, and are eager to answer your questions about life at Drexel. Please feel free to reach out to one of our Dean's Ambassadors below:
CCI Graduate Dean's Ambassadors
Estifanos Tsehay Abebe
Degree Program: MS in Computer Science - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Seoul National University
Personal Interests: Photography, Learning Languages, DIY Projects
Career Goals: Machine Learning Engineer/AI Engineer
Advice to Prospective Students: The professional connections you make while at school are crucial for your career advancement. Capitalize on the opportunity to engage with peers and cultivate impactful connections with faculty members.
Email Estifanos
Purva Bhawsar
Degree Program: MS, Information Systems - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Dr. D. Y. Patil College, 2020
Personal Interests: Crocheting, cooking, painting
Career Goals: Technology Product Manager
Advice to Prospective Students: As a graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Information Systems at Drexel University, I am passionate about data analytics, user experience, and digital innovation. As a Graduate Dean’s Ambassador, I love connecting with fellow students, helping them settle into campus life, and making their Drexel journey as exciting and rewarding as possible. Always happy to chat, share experiences, and make new connections along the way!
Email Purva
Khue Dao
Degree Program: MS in HCI/UX - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Drexel University
Personal Interests: Pottery, painting, drawing, watching movies, traveling, exploring cuisines
Career Goals: Working as a UI/UX Designer or UX Researcher in non-profit sectors
Advice to Prospective Students: Join different events hosted by CCI and other colleges - you'll make great connections and gain new skills and knowledge that might come in handy in the future.
Email Khue
Mary Donofrio
Degree Program: MS, Library and Information Science - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Muhlenberg College, 2016
Personal Interests: Reading, Theater, spending time with my cat
Career Goals: Librarian in a public or academic library
Advice to Prospective Students: Building community with other students and faculty is critical. Beyond building contacts for the future, knowing you have people to lean on when you are going through something challenging will help you feel less alone. Additionally, self-care is crucial for maintaining balance while studying at CCI. Taking time for yourself regularly allows you to come back to your schoolwork with more energy, enthusiasm, and resilience.
Email Mary
Chinonso (Chino) Eziefule
Degree Program: MS in Information Science - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: University of Port Harcourt
Personal Interests: Traveling, learning new IT concepts, anime, cooking and eating
Career Goals: To pivot my career towards Data Science and actively participate in innovative research and discoveries within the field.
Advice to Prospective Students: Don’t be scared of failure. Your only failure is never to try.
Email Chinonso
Naren Garapati
Degree Program: MS, Data Science - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Cal Poly Pomona, 2021
Personal Interests: Music/Guitar, Tennis
Career Goals: Data Engineer, Data Analyst
Advice to Prospective Students: Your time at Drexel can be intense with the quarter system and co-op cycle. I'd recommend you embrace it to the fullest extent possible! Be proactive, develop relationships in and outside of classes with other students/professors, and explore topics that are interesting to you.
Email Naren
Benjamin Math
Degree Program: MS Computer Science - Part Time
Undergraduate Institution: Temple University, 2015
Personal Interests: Cooking, Exercise, Reading
Career Goals: Software Engineer
Advice to Prospective Students:Get as much out of your time at Drexel as possible. Meet your professors. Use the university resources. Build connections with like-minded students. Leave a positive and lasting impact on the school.
Email Benjamin
Shawn McCollum
Degree Program: MS in Computer Security and Privacy - Part-time, online
Undergraduate Institution: Lycoming College
Personal Interests: Cooking, video games, trying new restaurants in Philly
Career Goals: Enter the public sector either working on cybersecurity research or helping key infrastructure agencies (DOT, DOE, etc) protect their systems
Advice to Prospective Students: Utilize the resources around you to help you achieve your goals, whether that is Drexel career services, professors, family or friends.
Email Shawn
Sophia Momah
Degree Program: MS, Computer Science - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Drexel University, 2023
Personal Interests: Crocheting, cooking, gym
Career Goals: Software Engineer, Ux Engineer/Designer
Advice to Prospective Students: One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer to prospective or new graduate students is to be proactive and engage fully with the CCI community. Graduate school can feel overwhelming at times, but taking the initiative to attend events, connect with peers and faculty, and seek out opportunities (whether research, leadership, or collaboration) can make a big difference in your experience. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone; the more involved you are, the more support, inspiration, and opportunity you'll find.
Email Sophia
Shriya Rawal
Degree Program: MS, Data Science - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Syracuse University, 2021
Personal Interests: Dancing (Swing/Ballroom), Traveling
Career Goals: Data Scientist
Advice to Prospective Students: You're not alone in exploring a new city, a new campus and most new people. So dont worry if you feel overwhelmed or are unsure about your next steps, odds are that others are feeling teh exact same way! Leverage all your resources, attend as many events as you can to meet like-minded people. Before you know it, you'll feel right at home here.
Email Shriya
Shawn Thomas
Degree Program: MS, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: MIT ADT University, 2024
Personal Interests: Music, Soccer
Career Goals: AI Engineer, Data Scientist
Advice to Prospective Students: Graduate school can feel overwhelming at times, but building genuine connections will make all the difference. Whether it's forming lifelong friendships, discovering exciting opportunities, or simply having someone to lean on, you're never alone when you make the effort to connect. Make the most of the resources, bootcamps, and support offered by CCI. There’s a lot available to help you grow both personally and professionally. These two years can be truly amazing if you stay engaged and open to the journey.
Email Shawn
Milan Varghese
Degree Program: MS, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - Full-time, on campus
Undergraduate Institution: Kerala University, 2020
Personal Interests: Reading, Hiking, Gym
Career Goals: AI Engineer, Data Scientist, Researcher
Advice to Prospective Students: As you embark on your graduate journey, remember that you’re not alone—don’t hesitate to ask questions, as faculty and peers are here to help. Stay organized, manage your time wisely, and balance coursework with personal interests to avoid burnout. Take advantage of workshops, seminars, and student organizations to build your network, and proactively connect with professors and staff to uncover research opportunities and prepare for your future career.
Email Milan
Become a Graduate Dean's Ambassador
The CCI Graduate Dean’s Ambassador program is focused on promotion of the graduate student experience to prospective and new graduate students. Graduate Dean's Ambassadors will have a role in recruiting and admissions events, as well as driving new graduate student growth and engagement. By becoming a Graduate Dean’s Ambassador, you will help fellow students; strengthen your leadership and communication skills; and develop unique experiences with CCI's academic partners.
Learn More