Alumni Spotlight

Jose Velazquez: Toward a Future of Electric Cars

Jose Velazquez was eight years old when he moved to the United States from Mexico. He has gone on to become the first in his immediate family to graduate from college, going on to earn a Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from UC Davis in 2017. Always obsessed with cars, he is now an engineer at Ford.

Alumni Spotlight: Rich Terrazas, '93

Following the Flow of Water

Rich Terrazas (’93) graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Though he had a background in structural engineering, he soon found himself working in the water industry. As Director of the Project Management Office at the environmental engineering firm Brown and Caldwell, Rich uses his engineering design expertise and water industry experience to evaluate the firm’s current and proposed projects to ensure they are commercially viable and successful.

Alumni Spotlight: Mike Chan, '98, '02

Mike Chan graduated from the UC Davis Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biological systems engineering in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Now a senior manager at Genentech, a leading biotechnology in South San Francisco, Mike leads a team of more than 20 engineers and managers that directly support the manufacturing of biologics, which includes a wide variety of products derived from human, animal or microorganisms.

Alumni Spotlight: Biotech Leader, Mike Chan

Mike Chan graduated from the UC Davis Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biological systems engineering in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Now a senior manager at Genentech, a leading biotechnology in South San Francisco, Mike leads a team of more than 20 engineers and managers that directly support the manufacturing of biologics, which includes a wide variety of products derived from human, animal or microorganisms.

Alumni Spotlight: Keith Chisholm, '95

A Career in Confections and Treats, for People and Pets

Over his 23 years working with Mars, Inc., Keith Chisholm has received three patents related to manufacturing processes associated with chocolates like M&Ms®. In addition, Chisholm (’95, chemical engineering) is behind many other innovations, including many that the company has documented internally as trade secrets.

Alumni Spotlight: Dora Yen Nakafuji, '01

Dora Yen Nakafuji, Ph.D., is a member of the Strategy and Innovation Group at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, HI, where she deploys innovative technologies for water, energy, transportation and workforce development. Most recently, she was the director of renewable energy planning at Hawaiian Electric Company.

Engineering Alumni Spotlight: Dora Yen Nakafuji, Ph.D.

Dora Yen Nakafuji, Ph.D., is a member of the Strategy and Innovation Group at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, HI, where she deploys innovative technologies for water, energy, transportation and workforce development. Most recently, she was the director of renewable energy planning at Hawaiian Electric Company.