Undergraduate Spotlights

• Amrit Arora
  

  Major: Mechanical Engineering (with a concentration in applied mathematics)
  

  Future Plans: Be a mechanical engineer that works in design, buildings and innovation! Post-graduation, I will be working as a junior associate at Trinity Consultants. The job is centered around acoustical consultation which is very exciting.

  What made you choose the School of Engineering, and Manhattan University? Sports are what initially introduced me to Manhattan University, but choosing the School of Engineering here was an easy choice! I chose Manhattan University's School of Engineering because of its strong department connections to the industry, solid alumni network, and the opportunity to bond with classmates and faculty. The idea of smaller class sizes was appealing to me as it would help me get to know my professors and classmates and make meaningful connections across the department! It felt like the right place to build both my career and my skills as an engineer, all the while continuing my soccer career and being a part of a tight-knit group.

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? What inspired me most were my classmates from freshman year that are now my closest friends! Their consistent hard work and effort was always very inspiring to me, and through any hard classes and exam seasons, we were able to lean on each other and go through school together, which made my experience here even more enjoyable.

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper: My biggest advice to anyone would be to get involved as soon as you can! Whether that be in a club that relates to your interests, or a mentorship program that relates to your career, getting involved early is the best way to set yourself up to get to know people similar to yourself and establish a network! As soon as you start involving yourself in extra things you enjoy outside of just classes, school will become that much more enjoyable, and you set yourself up well for the next 4 years here!

• Harrison Kampfe
  

  Major: Chemical Engineering

  Future Plans: I am starting as an CDP Engineer at Air Products in its rotational Career Development Program; my first assignment begins this summer in Houston, TX working with the Project Controls team. My first assignment focuses on the cost management and planning side of different projects to ensure they are completed efficiently (i.e. on-time & within budget).
  

  What made you choose the School of Engineering, and Manhattan University? The school's location really can't be beat. Being able to walk to the train and get to downtown Manhattan in around one hour is wonderful; there are many excellent opportunities and things to do here. Something I'll really miss is taking the train to Grand Street in Chinatown to drop off my film at the lab, buying a dozen dumplings for $5, and eating in the park while watching people play handball. Regarding the School of Engineering here, I was interested in the small class size. I really didn't want to be taking courses in large lecture halls with hundreds of people where the professor has no idea who you are, but that is not the case here. My education at Manhattan has felt very interactive, which I appreciate deeply.
  

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? Probably the community as a whole. Every person I have met has been incredibly welcoming and encouraging, so knowing that I have this deeply supportive family of peers, educators, and faculty that always has my back has been truly motivating over the past few years.

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper: Try not to let the work of your classes take over your life, and don't be afraid to ask for help regarding anything; people will be more than happy to support you here.

• Jazi Riley
  

  Major(s): Political Science and Philosophy

  Future Plans: After graduation, I will continue my role at the Bronx Economic Development Corporation and take some time off before Law school to explore! Since this interview took place: Jazi has been named a New York City Urban Fellow for 2025/2026. Read more here.
  

  What made you choose the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, and Manhattan University? As an incoming student, the moment I interacted with faculty and students, even on a virtual call, I could tell that people were proud to work and study at Manhattan University. My first impression was a good one and I wouldn't change anything. I am a very curious person and I found an environment that pushes me to engage without losing my curiosity. I have now turned into the exact person I hoped to become: confident, driven, and aligned with my career goals.
  

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? My Model UN experience has shaped who I am now. I've developed confidence as a speaker and writer. I have diplomacy experience and can collaborate with a varied network of students from around the world. These abilities influenced my campus leadership, and just as I was able to apply my classroom knowledge to model UN, I was able to apply my Model UN knowledge to almost everything I was involved in.

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper: You are a member of the Jasper family. It takes time to adjust and find your footing but take baby steps. Set small goals for yourself, in your personal and academic spaces. Be patient with yourself and extend that to others. And always remember, YOU are your best advocate and cheerleader! Be proud of yourself.

• Matt Regalado
  

  Major: Biochemistry

  Future Plans: My plan for the future is a gap year, to experience the field for a time before deciding what to specialize in for the future. I value keeping my options open and seeing how the abilities I've picked up these last four years will serve me in a professional environment. I really enjoy biochemistry, and hope to dig deep into a branch I'm really passionate about, of which there are several.
  

  What made you choose the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, and Manhattan University? I really appreciate having a one-on-one relationship with my professors, and the ability to be able to reach out to them with questions and curiosities is always something I've really enjoyed about the university since I came here. The opportunities to further get involved in academia through research with a professor is also something I did my best to make the most of, and has given me massive insight into what my field looks like after college; it's something I'm eternally grateful for.

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? During my time at Manhattan, music has become a massive part of my life and where I find space to decompress, relax, and enjoy life when things get very chaotic. For this I must thank my friend and musical mentor Mr. Andrew Bauer. He's the director of performing arts at the University, and I'm eternally grateful to him for his patience, leadership, enthusiasm, and the welcoming environment he has fostered over the years and my time here. He taught me, among many other things, that to be a good musician, or good at anything worthwhile, you must be a good person; no exceptions. I've learned many things throughout my time here, but I can't think of anything more useful to my personal life.

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper: Don't wait. Everyone is so busy, so in the best way possible, no one is watching your every move anymore. Do Performing Arts! Use the time to try new things, grow, do them right, and more importantly, do them horribly wrong. This place is a breeding ground where people come to learn what they're made of; leave your comfort zone, just don't wait to start.

• Alexandra Petrescu
  

  Major: Psychology Major and Biology Minor

  Future Plans: I started working as an Intraoperative Monitoring Technologist at Accurate Neuromonitoring on March 11!
  

  What made you choose the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, and Manhattan University? I am an international student – I was born in Romania and grew up in Portugal – wanting to study in New York, and Manhattan University had a great location where I was able to have the traditional campus experience while also being a train ride away from the city. I also wanted to attend a smaller school so that I could develop more close-knit professional relationships with my professors. Manhattan gave me all of this and I am really grateful.
  

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? Someone that inspired me during my time at Manhattan was Dr. Maria Maust-Mohl in the Psychology department. I loved taking all of her classes as they were more neuroscience based and I loved doing research with her!

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper: Take advantage of every opportunity, whether it's joining a club, building relationships with professors, or stepping outside your comfort zone. College goes by faster than you think, so make the most of it while balancing work and fun!

• Roen Crameri
  

  Major: Accounting

  Future Plans: I will be completing my Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Manhattan University.

  What made you choose the O’Malley School of Business, and Manhattan University? I choose the O'Malley School of Business for its unique size and opposites it provides students through clubs, organizations and internships. I chose Manhattan University, due to the warm community environment I felt when I toured it before my freshman year. I can’t forget about its amazing location being 45 minutes from downtown of the best city in the world.

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? The Manhattan alumni have inspired me during my time at Manhattan University. Hearing their career journey showed me that there is much possible leaving here with a Manhattan University degree. They have truly given me so many valuable lessons that I will carry with me going forward. 

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper: If there is one piece of advice I would give to an incoming Jasper, it would be to get involved here on campus. Never deny yourself an opportunity! Apply to that internship, go to that networking event, join a club or even better the e-board; be a part of the Pep Band or an intramural sport. Taking these actions will lead you to accomplish beyond what you could have ever imagined.

• Camila Bisono
  

  Major: Marketing
  Minor: Computer Information Systems

  Future Plans: I will be joining Nestlé at their Arlington, VA headquarters to take part in their Marketing Development Program. During my first rotation I will be working as an Associate Project Manager, then I will transition to a Consumer Insights Analyst role, and will round out the program as a Brand Marketing Analyst for my final rotation.
  

  What made you choose the O’Malley School of Business and Manhattan University? I am a generational Jasper. My dad – Alex Bisono ’97 – also obtained his business degree at Manhattan and always spoke highly of his experiences here, so Manhattan has always been on my radar. I eventually decided to attend because of the small campus feel with a close proximity to one of the biggest cities in the world, offering some of the best opportunities for professional experience. I also enjoyed the smaller class sizes, offering more opportunities to build relationships with professors and peers alike, and a more meaningful learning experience in general.
  

  Is there one person, place or thing that inspired you during your time at Manhattan University? The people and classmates I have interacted with during my time here have been the biggest source of inspiration. There is so much ambition and drive on this campus and it is truly infectious. Seeing my friends and peers be so assertive and motivated with meeting their goals, taking the time to build upon their professional and personal skills, and how they utilized resources both on and off campus to build up their resumes and gain relevant work experience truly inspired me to have that same drive when it came to devising and meeting my own personal and professional goals.

  Your advice to an incoming Jasper:  What you get out of any experience depends on how much you are willing to put into it. The O’Malley School of Business, and Manhattan University in general, offers countless opportunities to get involved, gain leadership experience, interact with peers and professors – the list goes on. Try to say yes to as many new learning opportunities as possible and be intentional about finding where your passions lie. This campus offers many avenues to grow personally and professionally, take advantage of those avenues, meet new people, and most of all have fun!

Meet the Valedictorian