Berkeley Engineering celebrates class of 2024

Newest grads embrace diversity of thought, perspective

May 20, 2024 by Marni Ellery

An MTM graduate blows kisses to the stands. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
A graduate snaps a photo while others look on. (Photo by Noah Berger)
“As Berkeley engineers, proud Berkeley engineers, we refuse to be bystanders in this technological revolution that we live in, because we are the storytellers of a future yet unwritten, a future where humanity and technology are meant to thrive in harmony,” said Ashwat Chidambaram (B.S.’23, M.S.’24 EECS), master’s student speaker. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
“Engineering can be contentious; it can be put to use in terrible ways. But at its best, engineering can be about creating and building things, physical or virtual things, so people can connect and improve their lives,” said Alexia Aubault (M.S.’05 Ocean Engineering), CTO of Ocergy and master’s keynote speaker. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
“Creating your own path requires great persistence. Your route from here is going to be full of right twists, wrong turns, double-backs, false starts and the occasional cliff or two. So be patient with your career and with yourself,” said Tony Xu (B.S.’07 IEOR), DoorDash co-founder and baccalaureate keynote speaker. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
“[T]he most important thing I want to remember is the community at Berkeley. Not just how Berkeley’s community has shaped us into resilient, intelligent, problem-solving innovators of the next generation, but how we gave back to shape Berkeley’s community in turn,” said Abhinav Subramaniam (B.S.’24 ME), baccalaureate student speaker. (Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small)
A graduate backflips on stage to onlookers’ surprise. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Engineering dean Tsu-Jae King Liu addresses the crowd with a “Go Bears!” (Photo by Brittany Hosea-Small)
Baccalaureate graduates toss their mortarboards into the air. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Ph.D. graduates gather with faculty before 2024 Doctoral Commencement at Zellerbach Hall on Saturday, May 18, 2024. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
“Senior researchers, including you and me, must make a more focused effort to work in collaboration with young people. Young people are invested in the future; they are not interested in the status quo. And the earlier they get a voice, the earlier they get a seat at the table, and the earlier they have a say, the better it’s going to be,” said Ashok Gadgil (M.A.’75, Ph.D.’79 Physics), civil and environmental engineering professor and doctoral keynote speaker. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
“Let’s appreciate the hard work we have put into pushing the boundary of human knowledge, the mentorship we have received, the memory we have created in Berkeley, and the people who have supported us every step of the way,” said Alicia Tsai (Ph.D.’24 EECS), doctoral student speaker. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Civil and environmental engineering professor Lisa Alvarez-Cohen, left, congratulates doctoral graduate Christian White. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Materials science and engineering professor Ting Xu, right, laughs while hugging applied science & technology graduate Ivan Jayapurna. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Graduates sport matching hoods following doctoral commencement. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
A doctoral graduate cradles a newborn following commencement. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)

The ranks of nearly 80,000 Berkeley Engineering alumni worldwide are now even larger following the college’s 2024 commencement. Last week, Berkeley Engineering celebrated graduates over the course of three ceremonies, honoring nearly 2,000 bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degree recipients. Graduates were greeted by cheers — and a few tears — as family and friends celebrated this milestone achievement and capstone to their time at Berkeley.

The baccalaureate and master’s degree ceremonies were held on May 14 at the Hearst Greek Theatre, while the Ph.D. degree recipients were hooded on May 18 at Zellerbach Hall.

Engineering dean Tsu-Jae King Liu commended graduates for completing rigorous engineering programs while navigating a global pandemic and societal and political shifts. From these experiences, she said, “We’ve learned to be open to hearing new ideas, learned to seek out different viewpoints and values, to gain a better understanding of other people and the world we live in.”

Liu also encouraged this new generation of engineers to draw strength and inspiration from Berkeley’s diverse community as they venture into the world and make new connections.

“Learning is a lifelong process, so I hope that you, as Berkeley engineers and global citizens, will go forth with a growth mindset, seeking new knowledge and building new relationships inclusively,” said Liu. “As you develop solutions for the benefit of humanity, please keep in mind that diversity of thought, perspective and experience is essential for excellence in innovation.”

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