DeMatteis SEAS

🦁It's National Engineers Week!🦁

🌟The theme this year is "Transform Your Future"! Meet Abdul Sanz a Civil Engineering major, and read his amazing story on how Engineering has transformed his future!🌟

"After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, I witnessed devastation that reshaped the way I see the world. Over 300,000 people lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. What struck me most was that many of those deaths were not simply caused by the earthquake itself, but by inadequate infrastructure and buildings that were not constructed to code. Structures that were meant to protect people instead became sites of tragedy.

Experiencing that reality at a young age planted a question in me that has never left: how can we build better, safer systems for our communities? Pursuing engineering is my way of responding to that question. I want to contribute to designing and constructing spaces that prioritize safety, resilience, and human life. For me, engineering is not just about calculations and materials; it is about responsibility. It is about ensuring that the built environment serves and protects the people within it.

At the same time, I bridge my passion for engineering with dance. As a dance major and an engineering student, I am constantly thinking about the relationship between bodies and structures. This intersection is the foundation of my senior practicum, where I explore how physical structures can support human movement both physically and emotionally. I am interested in seeing structures beyond their purely structural function. I see them as potential vessels for expression, healing, and connection.

Engineering allows me to merge technical precision with human-centered intention. My goal is to help create a world where infrastructure does more than stand; it supports, protects, and uplifts the communities it is built for."

Today is Hofstra's Day of Giving! When you give to the DeMatteis School, you help shape the future of engineering. ⚙️🦁

Give today at:

Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science Help support the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science on Hofstra Day of Giving!

In the February edition of the SEAS Dean's Blog, Dean Sina Rabbany details all the updates to lab spaces across the DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science: https://news.hofstra.edu/2025/02/05/seas-deans-blog-transforming-engineering-labs-for-hands-on-innovation/

Daniel Kowal ’27 and Audrey Day ’27, both mechanical engineering students in the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, were selected to participate in a competitive Mini-Semester at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. ⚙️

The intensive program brings undergraduates to Brookhaven for immersive training in scientific computing, electronics, and control systems while emphasizing interdisciplinary teamwork. 🤝

Check it out here: https://news.hofstra.edu/2026/01/27/students-explore-engineering-across-disciplines-at-brookhaven-national-laboratory-mini-semester/

Computer engineering major Samson Mathew ‘27 represented Hofstra on an international stage in November when he presented original research at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Conference on Data Mining, in Washington, D.C. 🖥️ 🦁

Mathew’s research examined the reliability of small Vision Language Models, focusing on whether compact AI models can safely interpret complex, real-world driving scenarios: https://news.hofstra.edu/2026/01/21/hofstra-student-presents-autonomous-driving-research-at-international-conference/

The National Science Foundation has awarded $199,109 to support an innovative applied research project led by D. Elliott Williamstyer, assistant professor of engineering in the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science. 🌟

The project, ERI: Optimizing Switch-Based Metamaterials Using Machine Learning to Enhance Phased Array Performance, focuses on improving the performance of antennas that serve as the backbone of modern wireless systems. 📡

Read more here: https://news.hofstra.edu/2026/01/16/hofstra-engineering-professor-secures-nsf-grant-for-breakthrough-antenna-research/

Six members of Hofstra's ASCE chapter attended the Workshop for Student Chapter Leaders in Jacksonville, Florida. ☀️ Abdul Sanz, Meghan Rodriguez, Ava Aubé, Patrick Havers, Samarah Hector, and Kassidy McGlynn.

The WSCL is part of the Multi-Region Leadership Conference. Throughout the conference, students attended a series of sessions that provided valuable insight and guidance on growing the chapter and better supporting members. Students also had the opportunity to meet with local leaders, other members of the Long Island branch, including several Hofstra alumni. 🤝

"Additionally, we expanded our network by connecting with student chapter leaders from across the East Coast and Canada, as well as professionals in the field. We were also honored to meet and interact with current ASCE President Marsha Anderson Bomar and President-Elect Carol Haddock," Hofstra ASCE President, Abdul Sanz '26. 🦁

Day 5️⃣ in Silicon Valley takes us to Stanford and Apple!

🏫 At Stanford, our students attended an Applied Machine Learning class, and explored the main campus and computer science building.

🍎 At Apple, students spoke with the Gift Card Team, and learned about their journey and opportunities, before exploring the Apple Park visitor center.

Stay tuned for more engineering excitement out in Silicon Valley! ⚙️🦁

📸 Special thanks to Samantha Nadler '27 (computer science and mathematics) and Dhruv Patel (Graduate computer science) for sharing content!

Day 4️⃣ in Silicon Valley takes us to Crowdstrike!

🚙 Waymo driverless cars transported the group to Crowdstrike, where they met managers from the Incident Team and Business Intelligence Team.

🃏 They attended a talk with the Sr. Product Manager from Falcon Sensor, where they learned about the Falcon Project, cybersecurity, and AI, before learning how to play the Cyber Threat Defender card game!

🖥️ The afternoon took us to the Computer Science Museum, where students visited the software exhibits before ending the day.

Stay tuned for more engineering excitement out in Silicon Valley! ⚙️🦁

📸 Special thanks to Samantha Nadler '27 (computer science and mathematics) and Dhruv Patel (Graduate computer science) for sharing content!

🎓Commencement Profile: For Justine Prasad, Hofstra provided much more than a strong academic foundation. The computer science and mathematics major gained meaningful practical experience that allowed him to explore his interests and discover new opportunities.

Prasad reflects on his time at Hofstra as one defined by growth, curiosity, and hands-on learning: https://news.hofstra.edu/2025/12/16/commencement-profile-justine-prasad-25-dematteis-school-of-engineering-and-computer-science/

Day 3️⃣ in Silicon Valley takes us to Micron and Meta!

💡 The group took a driverless car to Micron, where they met the lead of the testing facility & learned about some sample data chips

💙 Then off to the Meta office, where they met with Hofstra alums Doug Seich and JP Kobryn and toured the offices. The group participated in a discussion on Meta culture, different roles and their skillset for new grads, insights to potential improvements in Meta AI, Meta Vision, and backend infrastructure units of Meta.

📡 Continued the day with a hike through the Stanford Dish Hiking Trail before dinner with Hofstra alum Ron Piervincenzo.

Stay tuned for more engineering excitement out in Silicon Valley! ⚙️🦁

📸 Special thanks to Samantha Nadler '27 (computer science and mathematics) and Dhruv Patel (Graduate computer science) for sharing content!