Kemper E. Lewis, PhD, MBA, and dean of UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, is a global leader in engineering design, system optimization and advanced manufacturing. Prior to being named dean, Lewis served as chair of UB's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, where he was also the Moog Professor of Innovation.

Lewis is also the director of UB’s Community of Excellence in Sustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Robotic Technologies (SMART), an initiative that harnesses the strengths of faculty across the university to develop advanced manufacturing and design processes including autonomy, intelligence and materials technologies.

Caitlin Hoekstra has served as the Director of Career Development & Experiential Learning in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at UB since August 2023, providing professional development opportunities and support for undergraduate and graduate students. Having worked at UB for the past 15 years, her previous roles include serving as the Career and Internship Coach for Engineering Science Masters Programs and the Assistant Director for Experiential Learning the College of Arts and Sciences. Caitlin has experience designing, coordinating, and leading a variety of student programs and initiatives, including the SPIR startup internship program, Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program, and College Ambassador program. Caitlin holds a PhD and M.Ed. in Higher Education from UB, and a BS in Business Administration from SUNY Geneseo.

Steven Simpson has served as the Director of UB’s Career Design Center since June 2024, providing career education, experiential learning, job search strategy, employer engagement and social capital development support for UB students. Prior to joining UB, Steve served as Executive Director for the Benet Career Management Center at the University of Rochester Simon Business School, where he was entirely focused on supporting students from around the world pursing graduate degree programs.

Steve spent most of his career prior as a hiring manager and marketing professional at media companies in various regions across the United States, which included mentoring highly-diverse early career professionals within leadership development programs. He serves on the talent attraction committee for Invest Buffalo Niagara, which supports economic and workforce development in the Western New York region. Steve holds an MBA and MS degrees from Syracuse University and a BA from St. John Fisher University.

As Program Director of the Startup and Innovation Collaboratory and the WNY Prosperity Fellowship Program, Hadar helps students explore entrepreneurship as a viable career path through coaching, venture creation support, and fellowship opportunities. Hadar holds a Master of Arts in Geography with a concentration in International Trade and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography with a concentration in International Business and World Trade, both from the University at Buffalo.

Tomás joined UB after having served in numerous senior student affairs positions throughout his career, including as the Dean of Students at the University of New Mexico, the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Texas A&M – Commerce, and at SUNY Delhi, Dr. Aguirre served in critical leadership capacities including Vice President of Student Life and Chief Diversity Officer.

Dr. Aguirre has spent most of his professional career supporting students at public institutions because of their mission to boost economic and social mobility, especially for first-generation students and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. As a first-generation student and person of color, he is a diversity-driven administrator with a specialty in supporting students, staff and faculty with diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation, abilities, international and ethnic backgrounds. He has a track record of developing high-impact programs and services in the critical areas of student achievement and success, diversity and inclusion, leadership and engagement, and more.

Tomás earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Studies from The University of Texas, his Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, his Master of Business Administration degree from SUNY Oswego, and his Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern California.

Luke is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in SEAS. He received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University in 2011 and a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago in 2003. He joined the University at Buffalo in 2012. His research specialization is in programming languages, specifically the design and implementation of languages for embedded and real-time systems. He received the prestigious NSF CAREER award in 2018. Outside of work you can find him training Tae Kwon-Do with his family.

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo (SUNY), with affiliated appointments at the RENEW Institute and as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). I lead research at the intersection of tribology, nanotechnology, and advanced materials science, spanning areas such as nanoscale surface interactions, sustainable PFAS remediation, and the application of machine learning methods to predict materials behavior.

I work closely with a dynamic team of graduate and undergraduate students, and I love mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Outside the lab, you'll often find me exploring the beautiful hiking trails that Western New York has to offer. I'm thrilled to be part of this panel and look forward to connecting with incoming Bulls!

Dr. Chi Zhou is a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University at Buffalo, where he also serves as the Director of Graduate Studies. Originally from China, he earned his M.S. in Computer Science and Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California. Before joining UB in 2013, he was a Senior Research and Development Engineer at EnvisionTEC, where he helped develop advanced 3D printing technologies. His research focuses on additive manufacturing, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), robotics, automation, and AI-enabled smart manufacturing. Dr. Zhou has received several honors, including the NSF CAREER Award, the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, and SUNY Chancellor's Research Award. He enjoys mentoring graduate students from around the world and helping them succeed academically, professionally, and in their future careers. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, swimming, skiing and traveling.

Iftekhar (Ifti) Emon is a Master's candidate in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University at Buffalo. His research focuses on computational fluid dynamics modeling of microorganism locomotion and their role in harmful algal blooms. Outside of research, Iftekhar is actively involved in the scientific community as an American Physical Society (APS) Student Ambassador, one of approximately 120 selected globally for the 2026-2027 term. He has also served as a Board Member of the Bangladeshi Graduate Student Association (BGSA) at UB and is actively involved in campus life. He is passionate about applying engineering principles to solve real-world problems. Outside of academics, Iftekhar enjoys traveling, photography, soccer, and meeting people from different cultures.

Rebekah Goel is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo, originally from Geneseo, NY. Her research focuses on developing biomaterials, and she also serves as a Graduate Student Ambassador, helping new students navigate life at UB.

She loves sharing grad-school hacks and recommending her favorite things to do around Buffalo. When she isn’t in the lab or writing blog posts about UB, you can usually find her baking something sweet or building Lego flower sets.

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