SAGE

Student Advisory Group in Engineering

Mission Statement

SAGE is intended to be a sustainable leadership structure with the mission of enabling the Engineering department to better support its students, including those from historically underrepresented groups and other marginalized populations. The main function of SAGE is to make the Engineering department an open and welcoming environment for students regardless of background. Additionally SAGE will provide Engineering students with transparency and greater insight into the operations of the department, as well as represent the interests and concerns of Engineering students to faculty and staff.

The SAGE Constitution further defines our functions, organizational structure, and membership.

Initiatives

Study breaks and office hours - all held in the Engineering Student Lounge SH 227 unless otherwise noted

ENGINEERING SIBLINGS PROGRAM
Through the big-little sibling program, we plan to create spaces to meet peers, make friends, share advice, ask for honest experiences, and have fun.

Resources

SAGE Officer Meeting Notes

Engineering Google Calendar

Engineering Student Opportunities Database

Unofficial Engineering Student Handbook

Anonymous Feedback Form

Research Opportunities Databases:

Pathways to Science

The Leadership Alliance

NSF

Amgen Scholars Program

NIH-Biomedical Engineering

SAGE Advisors

Elected representatives for 2025-2026

Class of 2026

Ben Aaron

Hi! I’m Ben, a senior from northern New Jersey. I’m an Engineering and Applied Mathematics Double Major with an emphasis on Civil and Structural Engineering. I’m focused on research into a more sustainable built environment, including work in Professor Fiona O’Donnell’s lab. In addition to being a SAGE member, I’m also on the board of Swarthmore’s chapter of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and I’ll be working as a E59 Wizard and Math Clinician this fall. I’m also a huge fan of playing video and board games with friends!

Class Year: 2026

Majors/Minors: Engineering and Applied Mathematics

email: baaron1@swarthmore.edu

Prerna Karmacharya (she/her)

Hi! I’m a senior from Lincoln, Massachusetts. Along with SAGE, I am on the board of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). I am also an Aydelotte Fellow, and student researcher for the Developmental Psychology lab on campus. My favorite engineering class was Inclusive Engineering Design! In my free time, I enjoy sitting in hammocks, playing board games, and watching JetLag the Game. Feel free to say hi, and reach out with any questions about Swarthmore, or anything else!

Class Year: 2026

Majors/Minors: Special Major in Education and Psychology, Minor in Engineering

email: pkarmac1@swarthmore.edu

Abigail Peters (she/her)

Hi everyone! I'm a senior from Wilmington, Delaware interested in human-centered design and sustainable structural engineering. Along with SAGE, I am also a co-president of Swarthmore's chapter of the Society of Womxn Engineers (SWE), a Wizard for E59: Mechanics of Solids, and I have been conducting wood mechanics research with Professor Fiona O'Donnell since spring 2023. In my free time, I enjoy playing board games with friends, listening to music, and watching Philadelphia sports! Please reach out if you have any questions about engineering, Swarthmore in general, or if you’re just looking for some support!

Class Year: 2026

Majors/Minors: Engineering Major

email: apeters2@swarthmore.edu

Zoe Sperduto (she/her)

Hi, I’m Zoe! I am a senior from New York City interested in structural engineering. Outside of SAGE, I am a co-president of Swarthmore's chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a Wizard for E59, and a researcher in the Swarthmore Wood Mechanics Lab. I am also a Lead Fellow in the Writing Center where I have developed engineering lab report writing programming. Outside of school, I enjoy playing guitar, spending time with my dog and watching Jeopardy with my roommates! If you have any questions about anything Swat-related, feel free to reach out!

Class Year: 2026

Majors/Minors: Engineering Major, Educational Studies and Applied Math Minors

email: zsperdu1@swarthmore.edu

Gillian Will

Hi, I’m Gill, a senior from Long Island, New York, passionate about applying engineering and mathematics to real-world challenges. Outside of SAGE, I’m a member of the Varsity Women’s Lacrosse team, serve on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), an on-campus Tour Guide, and actively participate in Swarthmore’s chapters of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and 180 Degrees Consulting. I’ve also had the opportunity to conduct biomedical engineering research in the cadaver lab with Professor Towles, receive an Amplify Grant to create a model of the 20X35 geothermal energy initiative on campus, and to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, last fall.

After graduation, I’ll be joining Ernst & Young (EY) in New York City, where I’ll work in Technology Consulting with the Technology Strategy & Transformation (TST) competency. Outside of academics and work, I enjoy competitively running, exploring national parks, spending time with my rescued dogs & cats, and volunteering in my community.

Feel free to reach out if you’d like to chat about engineering, consulting, or anything else!

Class Year: 2026

Majors/Minors: Engineering Major, Applied Math Minor

email: gwill1@swarthmore.edu

Class of 2027

Paolo Bosques-Paulet (he/him)

Hi everyone! I am a junior from Humboldt County, California, and I am interested in biomedical engineering and computational modeling in human biology. I have done research on the mechanics of the thumb with Professor Towles and am working with Professor Nakao in the math department on low-rank tensor algorithms for PDEs. I enjoy captaining Swarthmore club rugby, lifting at the Matchbox, and playing wind instruments. Say hi if you see me around!

Class Year: 2027

Majors/Minors: Engineering and Applied Mathematics Double Major

email: pbosque1@swarthmore.edu

Nora Jiang

Hi everyone! I am a junior from West Chester, PA interested in both civil and mechanical engineering. Aside from SAGE, I am also in charge of our Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle project (it’s the two weird structures currently located in the high bay, come talk to me if you are interested!) and play ultimate frisbee for Warmothers. I also do some work in engineering consulting. In my free time I enjoy taking naps, going into Philly, and petting all the dogs around Swarthmore.

Class Year: 2027

Majors/Minors: Engineering and Political Science Double Major

email: njiang1@swarthmore.edu

Elisabeth O’Connor (she/her)

Hey, I’m Elisabeth :) I’m a junior from Garnet Valley, PA, and am pursuing civil/structural engineering, with a lot of interest in sustainable, creative, and convenient design solutions. I’ve worked on research in the Wood Mechanics Lab with Professor O’Donnell since 2024. I love playing on the varsity softball team here, listening to musical soundtracks on repeat, having an occasional dance-break, and doing impromptu photoshoots with my roommate. Don’t hesitate to say hello or ask me anything, engineering-related or not, if you see me out and about!

Class Year: 2027

Majors/Minors: Engineering Major, Applied Math Minor

email: eoconno1@swarthmore.edu

Devin Malhotra (he/him)

Hey Everyone! My name is Devin Malhotra and I’m a junior from Charlottesville, VA. I am interested in majoring in engineering and applied mathematics with interests in environmental, electrical, and aerospace. In my free time I like to watch sports, tour all the grub in Philly, and discover new music. I am a member of the newly established Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) chapter here at Swat, and play on the club rugby team. Email me at dmalhot1@swarthmore.edu if you have any questions about engineering, ESW, SAGE, or you just want to talk!

Class Year: 2027

Majors: Engineering and Applied Mathematics Major

Email: dmalhot1@swarthmore.edu

Class of 2028

Vanessa Gonzalez-Rychener

Hi! I’m Vanessa, and I’m a sophomore from Pittsburgh. I’m mostly interested in civil and environmental engineering. Within the engineering department, I’m a Wizard for E17 and I’m a member of the ASCE Sustainable Solutions team which made it to nationals last year! I’m also a member of the Good Energy Collaborative, an organisation focused on getting people in Philly and Chester excited about clean energy careers. I’m also the president of Swat Volunteers and dabble in various club sports.

Class Year: 2028

Majors/Minors: Engineering major, Environmental Studies major or minor

email: vgonzal1@swarthmore.edu

Thomas Shelton

Hello there! I’m Thomas, and I’m a sophomore out of Silver Spring, MD. I’m interested in Biomedical, civil, and aerospace engineering. I currently am building my own electric guitar from scratch.

When not doing engineering, I love participating in theater shows or playing music and sports. I am a co-president of Boy Meets Tractor, the best sketch comedy group on campus, as well as a founding member of the rock band Arrogance. I fence sabre on the fencing team and am a forward on the rugby team. I love the Star Wars movies, rooting for the Washington Commanders, and cheering on the Irish Rugby team. Feel free to drop by and say hi if you see me on campus!

Class Year: 2028

Majors/Minors: Engineering and Theater majors

email: tshelto1@swarthmore.edu