Photo: Jospeh Lucey-Renteria, Maritza Sanchez, Salvador Rojas
Our ECST motto, “Commit to Excellence. Engage in Community,” is personified in three of our recent alumni who went on to receive doctoral degrees at UCLA, UCSD, and Purdue and are now returning to our Cal State LA community as assistant professors in 2023/24! We hope you enjoy learning more about these new faculty members and what motivated them to return to Cal State LA.
Salvador Rojas
Class of 2016 BS, Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2018 MS, Mechanical Engineering
Photo: Salvador Rojas today and as an ECST student working on Capstone project.
Salvador Rojas will join the Department of Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles, as an assistant professor in the spring of 2024. He has just successfully completed his thesis defense for his Ph.D. from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University, where he is a George Washington Carver, Indiana Space Grant, and Ward A. Lambert Fellow. His primary research is the development of bioinspired robotics and reprogrammable architectures. He plans to build a highly collaborative research lab at ECST focused on robotics and smart structures. He also plans to serve as the advisor for the Cal State LA chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers professional organization and as the advisor for the Office of Naval Research-sponsored RoboSub Team. He enjoys teaching, mentoring, and making sure students get involved within their community, showcase their work at outreach events, and are active in professional organizations.
“Truly, there are a multitude of reasons for wanting to come back to Cal State LA. The foremost is having the opportunity to engage a primarily minority community studying science and engineering. As an alum, I know this community was born with diverse ideas and grit, and these are the students I want to teach and mentor. The key factor for their success is that wherever they come from, and no matter the number of obstacles, hurdles, marathons, and sleepless nights they have had, they never stop trying to reach their goals. It is the diversity within Cal State LA that exemplifies tackling problems from all directions with different solutions. Another reason I chose to come back to Cal State LA is to be an example for our students. If they can relate to someone with a similar background and see that person achieving their goals, they too can adapt, break the stigma, and most importantly push boundaries.”
Learn more about Dr. Rojas
- https://www.calstatela.edu/studentsuccess/salvador-rojas
- https://www.calstatelamagazine.com/cover-stories/salvador-rojas
Maritza Sanchez
Class of 2016, Mechanical Engineering
Photo: Maritza Sanchez today and as an ECST student presenting at Capstone Expo.
Maritza Sanchez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles. She received her Ph.D. and master’s from the University of California, San Diego in Materials Science and Engineering. Her research focuses on the development of ceramic materials for extreme environments through various synthesis and processing techniques. She has a strong passion for teaching and mentoring and currently serves as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) chapter advisor. She is an LA native and a Cal State LA alumni.
“I chose to come back to Cal State LA because I am a firsthand example of the impact that this institution has on the educational and career paths of students from underrepresented backgrounds. I believe this university is truly making a positive impact, and I want to be a part of helping more students achieve their goals!”
Joseph Lucey-Renteria
Class of 2018, Civil Engineering
Photo: Joseph Lucey-Renteria today and as an ECST student with Dr. Sonya Lopez.
Joseph Lucey-Renteria is an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education postdoctoral researcher at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Coastal Hydraulics Lab studying compound flooding along transition zones. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with his research focusing on the characterization of coastal flood risks using hydrodynamic models and various statistical methods. Joseph starts as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Cal State LA in August 2024.
“Cal State LA has always had ample opportunities for students, including employment, scholarships, and research. I strongly believe that any student who walks into ECST and puts in the effort and work required to become a good engineer can end up in any company or graduate program they desire. I’m extremely excited to bring my expertise in Coastal Engineering to ECST as there is strong demand globally for engineers and scientists with this background. I will always be grateful for the opportunities I had and the foundation I built at Cal State LA. It is a wonderful gift for me to bring these opportunities as a professor to the next generation of Cal State LA students.”
Learn more about Dr. Lucey-Renteria