Dean's Leadership Society
Members of the Dean’s Leadership Society are visionaries and change-makers, playing a transformative role in the future of Columbia Engineering. Through their support, they empower some of the brightest engineering minds—both current and future students—to go forth and change the world.
Alumni, parents, and friends of Columbia Engineering can become annual members of the Dean’s Leadership Society with cumulative giving of $1,000 or more within the fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30.
Graduates from the Classes of 2016 to 2025 may join the Dean’s Leadership Society at the Pioneer level by contributing a cumulative total of $100 or more per year upon graduating.
Members of the Dean’s Leadership Society enjoy access to exclusive communications, invitations to special events, and additional opportunities throughout the year to see firsthand the impact their generosity has on students, faculty, and the innovation happening at Columbia Engineering.
Columbia Engineering is proud to share these stories from our students and faculty, whose academic work and experiences are made possible by support from the Dean’s Leadership Society.
Faculty Stories
Jeffrey Kysar: Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
"Safe medical access to the inner ear is currently not possible because of the position of the inner ear within the skull. Therefore, severe hearing and severe balance disorders, such as Ménière’s Disease, are diagnosed and treated indirectly. My group designs and deploys microsurgical tools to provide safe medical access to the inner ear. We work closely with surgeons in preclinical studies and have demonstrated safe medical access to the inner ear for both diagnosis and treatment. We are currently planning clinical trials with the goal of enabling direct diagnosis and direct treatment of hearing and balance disorders in humans."
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic: University Professor and Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering
"One of the biggest challenges in today’s medicine is finding ways to reestablish the function of our vital organs lost to injury or disease. For over 25 years, my research team has been developing approaches for bioengineering heart, lung and bone from the patient’s own cells. At the same time, we are creating tiny “organs on a chip” that recapitulate organ level and systemic functions. These models allow us to study currently incurable conditions such as cancer metastasis, heart disease, and lung fibrosis. Our goal is to turn these discoveries into treatments that can help us live longer and healthier lives."
Michael Massimino: Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering
"Space exploration is a passion for many students at Columbia. I advise our space club, the Columbia Space Initiative (CSI), founded ten years ago and now the most popular engineering club on campus, with 250+ active members dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge in near-space, space, and beyond. This enthusiasm has led to the creation of a new Aerospace Engineering Minor and the ongoing effort to establish a Major. CSI students pursue missions in satellites, rockets, astrobiology, robotics, sustainable aviation, habitats, space policy, and outreach. They are the finest group of young people I have ever encountered. Supporting their research will allow them to continue making significant contributions to the space program and the world while at Columbia and in their future careers."
Student Stories
Nicholas Djedjos ’26SEAS
"Thanks to Columbia Engineering’s generous financial aid program, I was able to explore the intersection of computer vision and cancer biology this past summer at Summer@SEAS. There, I was able to correct for faulty biological prep using machine learning, allowing my team to analyze previously unusable protein data. Columbia Engineering also financed my research trip to one of the most prestigious computational biology conferences, RECOMB, in Seoul, Korea in April 2025. I had the opportunity to network with professors and graduate students, present my own novel research method, and explore a new culture. Columbia Engineering’s general financial aid during the school year has permitted me to focus more on my academics instead of pursuing a part-time job. As a result, I’ve been able to lead clubs like the Columbia University Biotech Society (formerly known as Systems Biology Initiative), where I organized biotech research and industry talks and networking events."
Aashi Kotecha ‘26SEAS
"Over the summer of 2024, I spent two months at the research and development department of Macleods Pharmaceuticals in Mumbai, India. Going into this experience, I was unsure whether the pharmaceutical industry was for me or how I should plan for this in terms of future internships and coursework. I wanted to gain clarity on this, develop research experience that would make me a more competitive applicant in the future, as well as live independently in a new country. I am extremely proud to say that this was all possible during the internship and I have come out of it with a clearer career direction and plan."
Manuella Kwawu ‘26SEAS and Julie Aleiner ‘26SEAS
"We have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that donor support has on the work of Engineers Without Borders. During the recent trip to Ghana, donor contributions went a long way toward funding the travel of two project teams: an assessment team that conducted site analysis for a future preschool in Obodan, and the Mpakadan implementation team, which collaborated with the Electricity Company of Ghana to connect homes to the national electrical grid. These funds allowed both teams to prioritize the technical and community-driven aspects of their work without being overly burdened by financial constraints. As long-time members of Columbia EWB and leaders on the executive board, we have experienced the many ways in which donor support advances the organization’s mission through funding, outreach, and the sharing of knowledge."
Donor Voices
Every innovation and achievement at Columbia Engineering is made possible by the Dean’s Leadership Society’s continued support. Together, the Society and its members are creating opportunities for future engineering leaders.
Alyssa and Michael Au ’90SEAS; P: ’29CC
"As a Columbia Engineering graduate who benefited from financial aid, I understand the life-changing impact of generous donors. My time at Columbia not only shaped my career but also gifted me lifelong friendships and optimism that better was always possible. We support the Undergraduate Scholarships Fund to help ensure today’s talented and motivated students can thrive, regardless of financial background. Contributing each year is our way of honoring those donors before us, whose selfless giving helped pave the way for the next generation of engineers."
Theresa Sgammato ’84SEAS; P: '16SEAS, '17SEAS, 18SEAS, '21 SEAS
"I give to Columbia out of a deep sense of obligation and gratitude for an education that has given me so much opportunity, and when Columbia asked me to make the University my top philanthropic priority, I was glad to do so. Further, I delight in hosting the Welcome Reception for Newly Admitted Students from the San Diego area. It is great to spend an evening celebrating the joy of being admitted to Columbia College or Columbia Engineering with newly admitted high school seniors and their families."
Jon and Sarah Aibel ’92CC; P: ’23CC ’25CC ’28SEAS
"Our three children have been fortunate to attend Columbia, and it’s been especially meaningful to watch our youngest, Hudson ’28SEAS, chart his own path at Columbia Engineering. Supporting the Parents Fund is our way of helping ensure that all students have access to the same kinds of opportunities that have enriched our children’s experiences—rigorous academics, vibrant extracurriculars, and a supportive community in which students can grow, discover, and thrive."