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CECS Celebrates Accomplishments of Its Graduates and Alumnus

Group shot of Louise and Mike Mahoney, left, with their son, Tom, and COE Dean Forouzan Golshani

Computer science alumni Tim Mahoney says he loves Long Beach State so much that he has a black-and-gold mug in his office at Apple, where he works as a software engineering manager. Son of former College of Engineering Dean Mike Mahoney, who is now provost and vice president of academic affairs for Cal State East Bay, Tim said he attended five schools over seven years before earning his degree.

At CSULB, he received almost all As. In fact, Mahoney still remembers the one faculty member who gave him a B.

After graduating in 2013, he applied for more than 100 jobs and toured Silicon Valley companies to distribute his resume in person before receiving the fateful call from Apple. “Not everybody thinks they can apply to their dream job and get it, but there’s no harm in trying,” said Mahoney, recipient of a CECS Outstanding Alumnus award.

Dean Forouzan Golshani advised graduates to find their passion—and stay in touch with faculty. “I’m so glad we’re here to celebrate your success,” he said. “You overcame obstacles. You pulled through and you’re here.” Continue reading “CECS Celebrates Accomplishments of Its Graduates and Alumnus”

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Commencement Draws Thousands

The College of Engineering on Tuesday kicked off CSULB’s graduation week with a commencement that drew nearly 800 graduates, as well as hundreds of family members and friends.

“This is a very important milestone in the lives of our graduating students,” said Dean Forouzan Golshani, who advised grads to keep learning and help others. “There is so much more that a successful engineer or computer scientist must know. Engineering is all about innovating new ideas,” he said.

CSULB President Jane Close Conoley gave students some good advice: wear sunscreen, watch your blood sugar, vote, be members of juries, support public education, and pick a life partner who makes you a better person. The CSULB President also thanked families for the support, encouragement, and nagging it took to keep their kids on the track to graduation.

“Hold onto hope and be the hardest-working person in the room. And stay connected to the campus and the alumni association,” she added.

Southern California Gas Co. Vice President Hal Snyder, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1983, told students they were joining a group of CSULB graduates 300,000 strong. Snyder, the College of Engineering’s 2015 Distinguished Alumni, congratulated his 2016 successor Kenneth Santarelli, director of the Antelope Valley Engineering Program and director of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.

In keeping with tradition, grads decorated their mortarboards in keeping with their engineering discipline. For civil engineering and construction engineering management grads, it was black hardhats. Electrical engineers decorated theirs with LED lights or made them look like circuit boards. And then there were those that had nothing to do with engineering at all. To view photos from commencement, visit the CSULB Facebook page.