Meet the Team | INSPIRE Program

Meet The INSPIRE Team

Meet Our Staff

Elizabeth Belding

Elizabeth Belding is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science, where she has worked since 2001! Her research focuses on measuring and expanding fixed and mobile Internet access around the country, analyzing who has access, and the quality and affordability of that access. She believes everyone needs high quality, reliable Internet access so that they can fully reap the benefits of online world. She is excited to share all the ways that a degree in computer science and engineering can have positive social impact on people and communities. When she is not at work, she can be found having fun with her family and with her four year old chihuahua-poodle-pomerian-australian cattle dog-boston terrier supermutt named Maia!

Joseph Chada

Joe Chada is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department. Prof. Chada teaches courses across the curriculum ranging from the first-year Introduction to Chemical Engineering to the Senior Design course. When he started his undergraduate degree, he was certain that he wanted to be an engineer someday although he couldn’t decide on which type—as long as it wasn't chemical engineering since he didn’t enjoy his first chemistry course. After (begrudgingly) taking another required chemistry course and loving it, he switched majors. Ever since, it’s been his mission to show prospective engineers how important chemical engineers are when working on global problems like sustainability and climate change. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys cycling, the occasional triathlon, and walking with his dog, Neville.

Yogananda Isukapalli

Yoga Isukapalli is a teaching professor and the undergraduate vice-chair in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. He joined the ECE faculty in 2017. Prior to that, Prof. Isukapalli worked as a scientist in the Wi-Fi research division at Broadcom in San Diego from 2010 to 2017. During his time at Broadcom, he was involved in the design and implementation of fast and power-efficient 11n/11ac/11ax Wi-Fi chips. As part of the systems team, he worked on all phases of Wi-Fi chip production, from conceptual design to integration into customer products. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UC San Diego in 2009. Prof. Isukapalli currently runs the Computer Engineering capstone program, and most of his teaching focuses on courses related to CE capstone projects. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys long walks in nature and camping.

Diba Mirza

Diba Mirza is a faculty member in computer science with an emphasis on undergraduate education and teaching. Visit her on the first floor of Harold Frank Hall (HFH 1155), and you will be welcomed by a colorful office and comfy seating to match the cool vibes of the ocean right across the building. She loves breaking down things that seem tough and complex and using that understanding to create something new. Teaching and learning computer science and engineering is a fun playground to do just that. She believes people connect most deeply when they can share a good laugh. That's why she loves comedy (fun fact 1: the programming language Python was named after the comedy troupe Monty Python) and humor (fun fact 2: a high point of her undergrad career was when she got a theater full of professors and students in splits as Aunt Abby in the play "Arsenic and Old Lace"). She tries to combine these passions into her job as an associate teaching professor and CS undergrad program vice chair.

Jessica Santana

Jessica Santana is an Assistant Professor in the Technology Management Department, where she teaches entrepreneurship and decision analytics. She uses computational social science methods - including text and network analysis - and is a sociologist by training, which means she finds social interactions especially interesting. When she isn't working or with family, Dr. Santana is training for local triathlons to enjoy Santa Barbara's breathtaking nature. Fun fact: Dr. Santana built a mobile augmented reality startup in 2010, which helped her get a job at video game publisher EA before she went back to school for her PhD. She is excited to meet the new cohort of first-year engineering students!

Meet The Peer Mentors

Meet Our Staff

Joaquin Del Pego

Joaquin is a second-year Computer Science major from San Diego, CA, passionate about entrepreneurship and human health. He’s launching a tech startup from campus, works at a fast-growing biotech company in Santa Barbara, and lives in UCSB’s first startup house. When he’s not working on projects, you’ll find him snowboarding, hiking, scuba diving, or enjoying the Isla Vista sun.

Pranav Gunhal

Pranav is a second-year Computer Science major from the Bay Area. His interest in building lego gadgets to perform basic everyday tasks and experiences using technology to improve teaching led him to pursue a degree in engineering. Currently, he is working on research studying the supply chain of computer architecture at UCSB's ArchLab as well as a project modeling earthquake prediction with novel metrics. In the future, he hopes to pursue a PhD in Human Computer Interaction for improving educational technology. In his free time, Pranav enjoys sketching the view from different parts of campus, reading, competing with UCSB's MUN team, and arguing about random topics with friends. As part of the Inspire program last year, he has seen firsthand the impact it has on first year students navigating college and is excited to mentor this year's scholars!

Avery Lange

Avery is a third-year chemical engineering student, originally from Houston, Texas! She is passionate about energy and sustainability, and is excited to learn more about the major and its real-world applications. She currently works at a small bakery in Isla Vista and tutors chemistry. Outside of the classroom, you can find her hiking, climbing, volunteering, or baking. She is looking forward to mentoring with INSPIRE this fall, and helping incoming students feel confident and connected in engineering!

Kelly Li

Kelly is a fourth-year student with a major in Computer Science and a minor in Statistical Science. While she initially considered pursuing a career in economics, she was admitted to UCSB as a Computer Science major. After taking a few courses, she developed a genuine interest in the field and decided to stay in the major. Outside of academics, Kelly enjoys crafting, learning how to cook and bake, taking spontaneous walks to anywhere, building Lego sets, and watching shows and dramas.

Amelia Lu

Amelia is a third-year electrical engineering (EE) major interested in robotics. She chose engineering for its wide applications and opportunities to help others, and is so excited to work with INSPIRE students this year! Outside of EE, she is pursuing an English minor and will be working as a CLAS writing tutor. You can find her watching sunrises and sunsets at the beach, reading, painting, and playing piano or pickleball.

Jose Marquez

Jose is a fourth year Electrical engineering major originally from Bakersfield, California. He chose engineering because it encourages him to create anything from his imagination and hopes to one day work on the hardware for satellite communication systems. He’s excited to be a peer mentor and encourage students' creativity and curiosity. In his free time he enjoys cooking, reading and starting new projects.

Henry Northen

Henry is a third-year Chemical Engineering student at UCSB, originally from the Bay Area. He chose ChemE for its interdisciplinary nature and the wide variety of career opportunities it provides. Henry conducts research with the Mefford group, exploring computational catalysis for ammonia oxidation and experimental electrochemistry related to eLOHC systems. He's excited to be a peer mentor, helping fellow students discover opportunities in research and navigate their academic paths. In his free time, Henry enjoys rock climbing, spearfishing, beach volleyball, skiing, and reading.

Megumi Ondo

Megumi is a fourth year Computer Science major. She is interested in robotics and human robot interaction. She is excited to be a peer mentor because she enjoys working with and helping other students. In her free time, she enjoys hiking.

Mihir Sampath

Mihir is a third-year student majoring in electrical engineering. His interests are in computer architecture, machine learning, and integrated (IC's). He is currently involved with Professor Peng Li's research team that modifies hardware architecture for processors to support spiking neural networks. He is excited to be a peer mentor to help students uncover what they want to pursue in the future and share experiences/advice that were helpful for him. In his free time he loves going to the gym, hiking with friends and playing basketball.

Jonathan Zhang

Jonathan is a 3rd year computer science student who grew up in the Bay Area. He has always enjoyed small projects that drive efficiency in his own life, and extended that to full-stack programming to drive real-world impact in society. He is currently involved in blockchain research within the FifTech lab, discovering where off-chain transactions can be optimized through payment channels. Outside of the classroom, he loves to go to the gym, chill at the beach, play basketball, and watching TV shows like Suits!