Graduates to Watch
Engineers Who Made Their Mark at UMass Amherst
Revolutionary Engineering takes many forms. For these students from the Riccio College of Engineering Class of 2026, it meant leading student organizations, conducting groundbreaking research, mentoring classmates, competing at the Division I level, and preparing for careers and graduate study around the country and the world. Their paths were different, but each leaves behind a lasting impact on the college community.
Gessica Bonheur
Gessica Bonheur leaves UMass with a record of leadership, research, and service that earned her the university’s prestigious 21st Century Leader Award.
A biomedical engineering major, first-generation college student, and daughter of Haitian immigrants, Bonheur devoted much of her undergraduate experience to supporting and advocating for others. As co-president of the UMass Amherst chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, she helped secure corporate sponsorships that sustained professional development programming and fully funded the attendance of 24 students at the 2026 NSBE Annual Convention.
She also served as president of the Rho Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she organized programming focused on financial literacy, civic engagement and self-care. Beyond her leadership roles, Bonheur conducted research as a 2024–25 Institute of Diversity Sciences Student Fellow under the mentorship of Professor Stacyann Bailey, presented her work at the 2025 Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference and served as both a resident assistant and Student Bridges peer mentor. During the summer of 2025, she completed an internship in oncology research and development through the Pfizer Futures program in California.
Reflecting on her own journey, Bonheur encourages future students to embrace what makes them different:
“Advice I would give to incoming students is to use your imposter syndrome as a superpower. Take pride in being the ‘odd one out.’ It’s what makes you stand out. Instead of trying to hide it or fit a mold, embrace what makes you different and let it push you to grow, ask questions, and take up space with confidence.”
After graduation, Bonheur plans to pursue an advanced degree and become a research engineer specializing in cardiology or oncology.
Riley Cole
Riley Cole never saw engineering and science as separate pursuits. Throughout his time at UMass, he looked for opportunities to connect the two while balancing the demands of Division I athletics.
Graduating with a dual degree in civil engineering and earth systems, Cole conducted research in the Environmental Geochemistry Group, the Soil and Water Research Group and the Wastewater Bioprocesses Laboratory. He also served as treasurer and events coordinator for the UMass chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, participated in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and completed an internship with O’Reilly, Talbot & Okun Associates, Inc.
Outside the classroom and the laboratory, Cole competed for the UMass Division I cross country and track & field teams, earning a place on the university’s all-time top-10 list in multiple events while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.
For Cole, the discipline required by competitive distance running became one of the defining lessons of his undergraduate experience:
“Distance running at the Division I level for the Track and Cross Country team meant the most to me as I discovered the importance of consistency and hard work in reaching my goals. It taught me how to persevere through tough times and the many challenges that arose to find progress and success.”
This fall, Cole will begin a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at Princeton University, where he plans to focus on hydrology.
Jamie Gudas
For Jamie Gudas, chemical engineering was about more than coursework—it was about creating a stronger sense of community for the students who would come after her.
Throughout her time at UMass, Gudas immersed herself in leadership, teaching and research. She served as president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), vice president of Recognition Initiatives for the National Residence Hall Honorary and secretary of the Honors House Council. She also worked as a resident assistant in Commonwealth Honors College and as a teaching assistant for Thermodynamics I and Heat and Mass Transfer.
Beyond the classroom, she contributed to research on the development of an injection molding machine and conducted undergraduate research at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln through support from the university and the Riccio College of Engineering. She also studied abroad in Scotland and completed a Project Engineer internship with Forgen.
As AIChE president, Gudas focused on strengthening connections among students and faculty, organizing more events than ever before while expanding opportunities for professional development:
“As President of AIChE, I am most proud of fostering a stronger sense of community within chemical engineering… Now, as a senior, younger students often come up to me for advice, support, or encouragement, and seeing that full-circle moment reminds me how much our community has grown. I am proud of my dedication, but I am even more grateful for the relationships AIChE gave me.”
After graduation, Gudas plans to move to South Carolina to pursue work focused on improving the environment.
Brigid Duffy
Brigid Duffy discovered that engineering is at its best when it combines technical knowledge with teamwork, leadership and hands-on experience.
As a mechanical engineering student, Duffy served as president of the UMass Rocket Team and secretary of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics student chapter. She also worked as an Engineering Peer, a Career Center student staff member and a teaching assistant for courses in MATLAB, Manufacturing Processes and Strength of Materials.
Her academic experience extended beyond the classroom through an Engineering Management minor, an Aerospace Engineering Certificate and an honors thesis completed through Commonwealth Honors College. She also gained industry experience through internships with Analog Devices and Brooks Automation.
Looking back, Duffy says her involvement with the Rocket Team shaped both her college experience and her future goals:
“The UMass Rocket Team really shaped a lot of my college experience and gave me so many opportunities that led me to where I am today! It’s super exciting that the college is developing the aerospace curriculum and I had the opportunity to take a few classes in it before graduating.”
After graduation, Duffy will begin working full time while planning to pursue a master’s degree in bioastronautics or aerospace physiology.
John Troy
John Troy made the most of every opportunity to explore different aspects of engineering during his time at UMass.
As a mechanical engineering student, Troy gained experience across multiple industries through internships with Apple’s Softgoods team, where he worked as both a Product Design Engineer and Manufacturing Design Engineer, as well as with Chromalloy, contributing to electroplating and diffusion coating projects for aerospace manufacturing. On campus, he helped develop an electric biopsy needle for cancer research as part of an independent engineering project.
Looking back, Troy says exploring a wide range of engineering disciplines helped prepare him for the next stage of his career:
“It was always really important to me to explore a wide range of engineering experiences. In my time at UMass, I’ve been able to challenge myself with aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, and biomedical projects. UMass truly has so much to offer, and my advice to incoming students is to take full advantage of it!”
This summer, Troy will return to Apple as a full-time iPhone Product Design Engineer.
Kayla Soraia Monterio
Kayla Soraia Monterio graduated with a chemical engineering degree after four years defined by leadership, service, and a commitment to helping others find their place at UMass.
As president of the UMass chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and secretary and public relations chair for She is Goals, Monterio fostered community while supporting fellow students academically and professionally. She also participated in the S-STEM Scholars Program, served as a Sloan Student Fellow in the Institute of Diversity Sciences and conducted research in the Stacyann Bailey Laboratory, where she studied the role of Let-7 microRNA in bone biology.
Beyond the classroom, Monterio remained deeply engaged with campus life as a member of the Cape Verdean Student Alliance and the Haitian American Student Association dance team. She also participated in a STAR Service-Learning study abroad program in Ghana and a volunteer service trip to Cape Verde through CVSA.
Monterio, who served as speaker at this year’s Senior Recognition Ceremony, says her time at UMass helped her discover not only her professional path but also her confidence as a leader:
“I didn’t come into UMass Engineering with everything figured out, but I left with clarity, confidence, and purpose. I came in trying to find my place, and I’m leaving as a leader, a mentor, and someone who knows her voice matters. Through every challenge and late night, I learned that growth isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up anyway. I’m proud that I became someone who not only chased her dreams, but made space for others to do the same.”
Next, Monterio will move to Washington, D.C., where she will begin work as an Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) engineer.
Hayley Norton
For Hayley Norton, biomedical engineering at UMass Amherst was about combining scientific discovery with a sense of community.
Over the past three years, Norton conducted research in the Schiffman Research Group, presenting her work at AIChE2025, the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference and the annual meeting of the Materials Research Society. Her undergraduate experience also included internships with Blueprint Medicines (Sanofi) and Eli Lilly and Company, as well as an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at the Colorado School of Mines.
Outside the lab, Norton served as a representative for the Biomedical Engineering Society, led the Running Club as president and participated in RISE and Commonwealth Honors College.
Reflecting on her time at UMass, Norton says the people she met were just as important as the opportunities she pursued:
“A place doesn’t feel like home without the people. Over the last four years, UMass has become a place I am proud to call home. My friends, peers, and mentors at UMass have given me the confidence and direction to chase after seemingly insurmountable goals: from running marathons to presenting novel research on a global stage. For these people, for their unconditional support that’s inspired me, I’m especially grateful.”
This fall, Norton will begin a Ph.D. at Tufts University in Professor David Kaplan’s laboratory, where she will study cellular agriculture and the gut microbiome.