The College of Engineering is honored to introduce this year’s student graduation speaker, Jared Michael Levin. A proud member of the Class of 2025, Jared is graduating from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, where he has distinguished himself through his dedication, curiosity, and leadership. Known for his thoughtful approach to problem-solving and his commitment to collaboration, Jared has left a lasting impact on both his peers and professors. He brings his unique voice and perspective to the stage as he reflects on his journey and looks ahead to the bright future that lies ahead for the Class of 2025. We asked Jared to reflect upon his time as an undergrad and here’s how it went:
What was your favorite part about your time at the CoE?
My favorite part was the community I built through Temple Robotics. Leading and growing the club taught me more than any classroom ever could, from navigating the challenges of group projects to learning the ins and outs of real engineering. But beyond the technical skills, it gave me life-long friendships with people who shared the same passion and drive. Building robots was great, but building that team meant everything.
What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?
My dad was the first person who got me interested in technology. He works in IT, so our house was always full of computers and gadgets that I thought were super cool. That early exposure made me curious about how things worked. Later, my cousin Kyle, who is a software engineer, convinced me to study Electrical Engineering in college. He showed the cool software and electrical engineering projects that he had worked on in the past, and it opened my mind to all the possibilities of what there was for me to learn and do in the field.
What was the most challenging part of your engineering education, and how did you overcome it?
The hardest part was balancing everything at once. Between leading Temple Robotics, working on research, building robots from scratch, and staying on top of my classes, there were times it felt very overwhelming. I overcame it by getting organized, leaning on the support of my teammates, and reminding myself why I started in the first place. Every late night and tough deadline were part of building something real and that kept me going.
Did you participate in any internships or co-op programs during your time in school? How did that experience shape your career path?
While I didn’t do a traditional internship, I gained a lot of experience through research. I started in the Neural Instrumentation Lab under Dr. Iyad Obeid, where I got valuable hands-on experience working with hardware and embedded systems. Later, I joined the Temple Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Lab (TRAIL) under Dr. Philip Dames, where I explored robotics, autonomy, and multi-agent systems. Working in TRAIL helped me discover that research is what I want to pursue long-term, and I intend to stay at Temple for my PhD while continuing my work in the lab.
Were there any unexpected lessons you learned during your time as a student that you think will stick with you long-term?
One big lesson I didn’t expect was how much you can learn by teaching others. Mentoring students in Temple Robotics and seeing them grow from having zero experience to building real robots taught me that leadership is just as much about listening and guiding as it is about knowing the answers. It also showed me the kind of impact I could have just by creating the right environment for people to learn and try new things.
How do you hope to make a difference in the field of engineering?
I want to build robots that will make the world more accessible. Whether it’s helping people navigate complex environments or creating systems that understand and adapt to human needs, my goal is to use robotics to improve quality of life, especially for those with disabilities or are unable to do so fully for themselves. Long-term, I also want to mentor the next generation of engineers the same way others have mentored me, and help grow the kind of inclusive, impact-drive community that shaped my own journey.
What are your next steps after graduation, and how are you preparing for them?
After graduation, I hope to stay at Temple to pursue my PhD in Electrical Engineering while continuing to do research in the Temple Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Lab. I’ve been preparing by diving deeper into robtoics topics like probabilistic planning, multi-agent coordination, and real-world deployment. I’m also continuing to work on projects that push my technical and leadership skill so I can be ready for the challenges that come with graduate-level research.