Nataniel Jayaseelan
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Computer Engineering B.S.; Computer Science Minor
Year: 2
Hometown: Eastvale, CA
The best thing about UCSC: The best thing about UCSC is the hills, offering easy access to most places I want to visit while providing a peaceful environment to focus on my work.
Dream job: My dream job would be as an engineer because I love tinkering with anything and trying to figure out how something works. Learning how to work as an engineer has been a fulfilling experience and I hope to learn more and continue to apply myself to meaningful projects.
Favorite movie: Interstellar
Favorite artist: Kendrick Lamar
Favorite place to go in Santa Cruz: On campus, it would be Oakes Cafe, and in Santa Cruz, I love going to the Santa Cruz Diner.
Best place to eat on campus: Oakes Cafe
Why Baskin Engineering? I chose Baskin Engineering because of the environment having a mix of curiosity, competition, and collaboration which I feel is really important in the field of engineering. My interest being a mix of engineering and computer science is an uncommon major at most of the other universities, and I feel lucky to find that here in Santa Cruz.
Sofia Yakushi
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Computer Science B.S., Bioinformatics Minor
Year: 2
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Best thing about UCSC: The best thing about UCSC is undoubtedly the people. Everyone I’ve met here has been incredibly supportive, caring, and friendly. Coming to UCSC has given me the opportunity to form several lifelong friendships, and these amazing individuals have truly made my time here unforgettable.
Dream job: My dream job is to become a security engineer or security analyst. Ever since high school, I’ve had a strong passion for cybersecurity. Out of all the career paths in this field, I’m especially drawn to these roles because they involve using frequent analytical thinking to identify security issues and develop or improve solutions for those issues. This combination of problem-solving and innovation makes these careers my ultimate goal.
Favorite movie: Spirited Away or The Sixth Sense
Favorite performer/band: Dominic Fike
Favorite place to go in Santa Cruz: Ume Tea
Best place to eat on campus: Oakes Cafe
Why Baskin Engineering? I chose Baskin Engineering because of the various opportunities it offers to its engineering students. I’ve always been deeply interested in research, particularly in technology and computer science. Baskin stood out to me because of its strong encouragement for undergraduates to engage in research and explore innovative paths in their field.
Maria Lopez
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Technology Information Management B.S.
Year: 3
Hometown: South Central, LA
Best thing about UCSC: Not only is the campus beautiful, but I love the community I formed here. The whole environment was so welcoming and I knew that I could see myself here for the rest of my undergraduate academic journey.
Dream job: I really want to break into the tech industry and pursue a career in product management, which I first learned about in my TIMS58 class. I love the idea of working with others and collaborating on data-driven projects to create products that make a difference.
Favorite movie: Labyrinth
Favorite performer/band: Bad Bunny
Favorite place to go in Santa Cruz: Downtown!
Best place to eat on campus: I love Oakes Cafe! Chicken tenders with a side of fries is a personal go-to.
Why Baskin Engineering? I choose Baskin Engineering because of the variety of resources I have as a BE student. The professors are so passionate about what they do, and I really enjoy taking classes that I know will help me in my future career.
Julian Serrano
Pronouns: he/him/his
Major: Sociology BA., Technology and Information Management minor
Year: 4
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Best thing about UCSC: The most fascinating thing about UCSC is it’s location. Being able to walk outside and be surrounded by such tall trees and fresh air always fills me with a sense of freedom. The proximity to the beach is certainly a bonus as I can experience breathtaking sunsets. By far the best thing about UCSC is the wonderful student body here and beautiful surroundings.
Dream job: I can’t guarantee what the future holds, but I would love to work in a field that allows me to combine my knowledge in these two fields and help create a more accessible world to those in the deaf and hard of hearing community, as well as other underrepresented communities.
Favorite movie: Moana
Favorite artists: The Marias, Conan, Bad Bunny
Favorite place to go in Santa Cruz: Mitchell’s Cove
Best place to eat on campus: Oakes Cafe
Why Baskin Engineering? I chose Baskin Engineering because it provided me with both a better sense of community and curriculum that would enable me to want to work harder and actively absorb and apply the knowledge I gain. Being a part of Baskin Engineering has provided me with many different resources that have expanded my knowledge of Technology and Information Management as well as allowed me to create better connections with my peers.
Eddie Ramos
Pronouns: he/him
Major: Applied Mathematics B.S.
Year: 2
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Best thing about UCSC: I really appreciate how welcoming the Jack Baskin Engineering community has been and how helpful the advisors are. I also appreciate the amount of resources that are here for helping students succeed in their classes. There are ample resources to succeed at Baskin Engineering even if you do not have prior engineering experience.
Dream job: I am an entrepreneur at heart and I love to build things. My dream job is to design and create as an engineer or to lead the business development side of a company. I’m comfortable working with both technical and non-technical teams and enjoy bridging the gap between innovation and practical application.
Favorite movie: Freedom Writers
Favorite place to go in Santa Cruz: UCSC’s Forest!
Best place to eat on campus: Stevenson Coffee House
Why Baskin Engineering? I entered UCSC as a proposed business management economics major. After experiencing Baskin Engineering—specifically our maker space and club space, Slugworks—I realized that I enjoy solving engineering-related problems. While I still appreciate the strategic and financial aspects of economics, studying applied math and utilizing the resources at Baskin Engineering, provides a stronger foundation for my technical interests and career goals.
Arely Rosendes
Pronouns: she/her
Major: Computer Science B.S.
Year: 3
Hometown: Bay Area, CA
Best thing about UCSC: The best thing about UCSC is how welcoming and outgoing the community is. No matter where I go—whether it’s Baskin Engineering or my residential hall—I always feel a strong sense of belonging. The people create a supportive and friendly environment that makes it easy to connect. Beyond the community, the natural scenery is breathtaking. From the peaceful raindrops falling through the trees to the sunsets over the ocean, the views are truly stunning.
Dream job: My dream job is to become a front-end software developer. Since I was a kid, I’ve had a passion for creating and a strong eye for design and color. I enjoy bringing ideas to life through visual elements and interactive features. The work I’ve done so far in building websites has been both exciting and fulfilling. It’s a career path that combines my creativity with my technical skills.
Favorite movie: Toy Story
Favorite performer/band: Bruno Mars
Favorite place to go in Santa Cruz: Natural Bridges State Beach!
Best place to eat on campus: Oakes Cafe
Why Baskin Engineering? I chose Baskin Engineering because it provides a wide range of opportunities and valuable resources for students. The faculty and staff truly care about our success and are always working to support and adapt to student needs. Being part of this community has given me a strong sense of belonging—everyone is friendly, supportive, and eager to learn. I also appreciate that the school offers a diverse selection of majors, including specific concentrations recognized as full majors. The variety and flexibility Baskin Engineering provides were exactly what I was looking for when deciding between universities!