91��Ƶ New York

Engineering His Own Path in Tech: Onye Ohiaeri '21

slatinovic — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:43:21 +0000

Engineering His Own Path in Tech: Onye Ohiaeri '21 slatinovic Mon, 06/08/2026 - 17:43

Seidenberg School of CSIS

Discover how Onye Ohiaeri ’21 transitioned from political economy to a successful tech career through 91��Ƶ's MS in Computer Science.

Sven Latinovic

For 91��Ƶ alum Onye Ohiaeri (MS in Computer Science ’21), building a career in technology was an unexpected path. Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Onye came to the United States to attend UC Berkeley, earning his undergraduate degree in political economy in 2018. But after graduation, he realized he wanted to pivot toward a more technical career without having to start over from scratch.

That search led him to 91��Ƶ’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. “I was looking for a program that took AI and machine learning seriously as a discipline, that was located somewhere I could build a real network alongside the degree, and that had professors who actually worked on the kinds of problems I wanted to solve,” Onye said. “91��Ƶ's Seidenberg School checked all three boxes. Being in New York meant I'd be surrounded by industry, and the curriculum focused on the technical areas I wanted to grow into. Looking back, choosing Seidenberg was one of the best decisions I’ve made—it gave me both the technical foundation and the location to launch the career I have now.”

The architecture decisions I make today all trace back to the foundation Professor Simo gave us.

A Foundation for Success

One Seidenberg course in particular would go on to shape much of Onye’s professional career: CS 610: Introduction to Parallel and Distributed Computing, taught by Professor Altion Simo.

“Professor Simo had a way of taking concepts that sounded abstract—parallelization, distributed coordination, scalability—and making them feel intuitive and practical,” Onye described. “He didn’t just teach the theory; he showed us how distributed systems actually get built at scale.”

The lessons from that class extended well beyond graduation. “I use what I learned in that class every single day,” he said. “The architecture decisions I make today all trace back to the foundation Professor Simo gave us.”

Like many students whose graduate studies overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, Onye’s experience at 91��Ƶ looked different than he originally imagined. Traditional networking opportunities disappeared almost overnight, forcing him to find new ways to connect with the industry he hoped to enter. “What I learned from that experience ended up being one of the most valuable lessons of my entire education: when the obvious paths close, you have to build your own,” Onye said.

Since he couldn’t rely on career fairs or in-person recruiting events at the time, Onye began reaching out directly to engineers and technology leaders whose work he admired. He researched the projects they were building and sent thoughtful messages engaging with their work, sometimes sharing ideas and solutions he had learned at Seidenberg that related to those challenges. “That approach is how I landed my first internship at Code and Theory, and it’s ultimately how I got to Amazon,” he said.

Soon after Code and Theory, a Seidenberg professor connected him with an internship opportunity at Take-Two Interactive, where he worked from 2020 through early 2021 while completing his degree. By the time he graduated, Onye had built both a professional network and a portfolio of technical experience through a combination of persistence, initiative, and support from the Seidenberg community.

Choosing Seidenberg was one of the best decisions I’ve made—it gave me both the technical foundation and the location to launch the career I have now.

From Student to Engineer at Amazon

After graduating in 2021, Onye joined Amazon Prime Video as a software engineer, where he spent four years working on large-scale systems serving millions of users worldwide.

During his time there, he contributed to projects including Prime Video’s “Top 10 Movies” feature, improvements to the platform’s search infrastructure, and the integration of Thursday Night Football into the search experience.

He also became the lead engineer responsible for dynamically scaling traffic infrastructure during major live events. “Scaling distributed systems to handle real-world traffic patterns—especially unpredictable traffic from live sports—is one of the harder problems in distributed computing and being trusted as the scaling lead for a service of that magnitude was a defining experience,” Onye said.

The role drew directly from the distributed systems concepts he first explored at Seidenberg.

Launching Something New

In January 2026, Onye’s position at Amazon was eliminated as part of a company-wide reduction in force—a reality that has impacted many engineers across today’s tech industry. But rather than viewing the moment as a setback, he used it as an opportunity to focus fully on a personal project he had already been building on the side: Cheqmate.

The idea for the app came from a familiar frustration during group dinners and trips with friends. “People would forget who owed whom, and figuring it out in the moment was painful,” Onye said. “Existing bill-splitting apps were clunky enough that nobody wanted to use them at the table.”

Convinced there had to be a better way to deal with these situations, Onye built one. Cheqmate streamlines the process by automatically surfacing venues and friend groups, allowing users to split bills quickly and discover places their friends already enjoy visiting. “The vision is that Cheqmate makes going out with your friends easier, more spontaneous, and more fun—from the moment you decide where to go all the way through splitting the check at the end,” Onye said.

Built using the same distributed systems principles Onye learned at Seidenberg and refined at Amazon, the app launched publicly on the Apple App Store in April 2026 and has continued to grow driven entirely by word-of-mouth adoption.

If your path looks messy or non-linear, that’s not a problem to solve. It’s often the source of your edge.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Onye has also stayed connected to 91��Ƶ since graduating. Most recently, he returned to 91��Ƶ to judge final project presentations for a Seidenberg computer science course, offering feedback to current students developing their own applications. “It was a full-circle moment,” he said.

His advice to students and recent graduates centers on initiative, persistence, and embracing unconventional paths. “Build something real before you graduate,” Onye said. “Classes give you the foundation, but the engineers who stand out are the ones who can point to something they built.”

He also encourages students not to underestimate the power of outreach and networking. “Cold outreach works better than you think,” he said. “Most students underestimate how willing people are to respond to a thoughtful, specific message from someone early in their career.”

Above all, Onye believes students shouldn’t feel pressured to follow a perfectly linear career path. “My path certainly didn’t look clean and linear from the outside. But every step taught me something, and the combination of all of it is what made me capable of doing what I do now,” he said. “If your path looks messy or non-linear, that’s not a problem to solve. It’s often the source of your edge.”

Contains Video

School

Seidenberg School of CSIS

Justices’ Ruling Will Help Gig Workers Take Companies to Court

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:38 +0000

Justices’ Ruling Will Help Gig Workers Take Companies to Court sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 10:00

In the Media

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Haub Law Professor Imre Szalai speaks with Bloomberg Law about a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could make it easier for some gig workers to pursue wage-and-hour claims in court rather than through arbitration. Professor Szalai notes that the Court’s latest decision reflects a significant shift in how federal arbitration law is being interpreted and expands protections for transportation workers.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/justices-ruling-will-help-gig-workers…

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In The Media

Bloomberg

School

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

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Imre S. Szalai

World Cup Windfall Could Bypass Broadway

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:58:05 +0000

World Cup Windfall Could Bypass Broadway sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 09:58

In the Media

Lubin School of Business

Lubin Professor Claudia Green is featured in Forbes discussing the economic ripple effects of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on New York City. While the tournament is expected to bring millions of visitors to the region, Professor Green notes that rising hotel prices and increased travel costs could discourage some tourists from attending Broadway shows, potentially creating challenges for parts of the theater industry even amid the broader economic boom.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marchershberg/2026/06/01/world-cup-windfall-could-…

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In The Media

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School

Lubin School of Business

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Politics of Naming

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:55:33 +0000

Politics of Naming sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 09:55

In the Media

Dyson College of Arts and Science

Dyson Professor Seong Jae Min pens an op-ed in The Korea Times examining the politics of naming and branding, arguing that the names attached to public institutions, programs, and places can shape identity, influence public perception, and reflect broader cultural values. Using recent proposals associated with President Donald Trump as a case study, Professor Min explores how naming practices differ across cultures and why they often become a source of political debate.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20260601/politics-of-naming

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In The Media

The Korea Times

School

Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

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The Shadow Over Hong Kong

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:54:06 +0000

The Shadow Over Hong Kong sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 09:54

In the Media

Dyson College of Arts and Science

Dyson History Professor Joseph Tse-Hei Lee writes a piece in the Taipei Times examining the legacy of the Tiananmen Square protests and the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong under the National Security Law. Professor Lee argues that while public commemoration has been suppressed within Hong Kong, remembrance and civic activism continue through diaspora communities around the world.

https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2026/06/04/2003858486

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In The Media

Taipei Times

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Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

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Law Passed Restricting ICE Activity in NYS

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:52:23 +0000

Law Passed Restricting ICE Activity in NYS sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 09:52

In the Media

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman speaks to Spectrum News Hudson Valley and analyzes proposed New York legislation aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, arguing that the measure could face significant legal hurdles because immigration authority rests primarily with the federal government. Professor Gershman also co-authors an amNewYork op-ed calling for reforms to the federal grand jury process, urging greater transparency, oversight, and procedural safeguards to help safeguard fairness and accountability in the justice system.

https://iqmediacorp.com/ExternalIframeMedia?mediaID=fa0919c4-46e9-4416-a69d-91b…

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Spectrum News NY1

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Elisabeth Haub School of Law

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Teaching Under Threat: The Escalating Crisis Of Incivility And Unsafe Working Conditions In Nursing Academia

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:50:19 +0000

Teaching Under Threat: The Escalating Crisis Of Incivility And Unsafe Working Conditions In Nursing Academia sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 09:50

In the Media

College of Health Professions

College of Health Professions Professor Michele Lucille Lopez writes in My American Nurse about the growing problem of incivility and unsafe working conditions in nursing education. Professor Lopez argues that stronger institutional support, clearer policies, and a renewed culture of respect are needed to address faculty burnout and strengthen the future nursing workforce.

https://www.myamericannurse.com/teaching-under-threat-the-escalating-crisis-of-…

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College of Health Professions

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Fashion at the Library: Small Clothes, Big Stories: Fashion Dolls and the American Story

sthyberg — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:45:40 +0000

Fashion at the Library: Small Clothes, Big Stories: Fashion Dolls and the American Story sthyberg Mon, 06/08/2026 - 09:45

In the Media

Dyson College of Arts and Science

Dyson Professor Emilie Zaslow joins a Library of Congress program exploring the cultural significance of fashion dolls in American life, discussing how dolls and their clothing have reflected changing ideas about identity, gender, history, and childhood across generations.

https://www.loc.gov/item/event-420879/fashion-at-the-library-small-clothes-big-…

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Seidenberg Class of 2026 Student Awards

slatinovic — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:45:13 +0000

Seidenberg Class of 2026 Student Awards slatinovic Fri, 06/05/2026 - 17:45

Students

Seidenberg School of CSIS

Celebrate Seidenberg's 2026 award recipients and discover this year's outstanding student honorees from 91��Ƶ's campuses.

This spring, students, families, faculty, and staff gathered on 91��Ƶ’s NYC and Pleasantville campuses to celebrate the Class of 2026 award recipients at the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems’ annual Awards Ceremonies.

Below is the full list of this year’s honorees. Congratulations to all our award winners—we are proud to recognize your hard work, dedication, and achievements as you reach this important milestone.

2026 Seidenberg Student Award Winners

- Outstanding Student of the Year: Stephanie Sicilian
- Cybersecurity Scholar Award: Siddhant Jiten Patel, Alister Peterson Rodrigues, Saidu Saradugu
- Computer Science Departmental Award: Zoha Fatima Ahmed, Nimisha Varghese George, Manjusha Devi Kancharla, Osaid Khan, Xianrong Liang, Chetan Manilal Patel, Kevin Rodrigues, Yujin Suh, Nisarga Vishwamanjuswamy
- Data Science Scholar Award: Farhana Azad, Yekaterina Donegal, Somesh Ramesh Ghaturle, Kausha Godhani, Joshua Gottlieb, Deepthireddy Ippala, Daniele Limongi, Abdul Munaf Mohammed, Fahad Anees Shaikh, Neelima Verma
- Information Systems Departmental Award: Saloni Sanjaybhai Nathani, Karishma Arjun Pawar
- Human Centered Design Award: Ruth Abraham, Gul Cil, Samantha Hahn, Rosa Ramos, Diana Ruiz, Izni Saiyara, Ankitaben Thakkar
- Francis Marchese Software Development and Engineering Award: Tobias Hall, Spencer Maginsky
- Scholastic Achievement Award: Lizi Imedashvili
- Computer Science Departmental Award: Daniel Belliveau, Caroline Zanuto-Winter
- Information Technology Departmental Award: Jason Gonzalez
- Scholastic Achievement Award: Omari Brockington, James Gengerke
- Computer Science Departmental Award: Donovan Lane
- Information Technology Departmental Award: Steven Schiavone
- Henry Birnbaum Endowed Scholastic Achievement Award: Brennan Moores
- Jean Coppola Award for Excellence in Service-Learning: Nicole Rossi, Dillon Talactac
- Susan M. Merritt Award for Academic Excellence: Noor Huda
- Seidenberg Civic Engagement Award: Nailah Brown, Daniel Ramos
- Alumni Achievement Award: Zachary Cherenfant, Jabari Nurse
- Gale Epstein Center Blue CoLab Award: Lizi Imedashvili, Vansh Kanojia
- Career Services Award: Noor Huda
- Seidenberg Scholars: Lizi Imedashvili, Daniel Ramos
- Jean Coppola Award for Excellence in Service-Learning: Daisy Molina, Anoop Pakki
- Susan M. Merritt Award for Academic Excellence: Kara Cho, Cori Lobel
- Alumni Achievement Award: Alexander Vasilevsky, Lauren Demaio, Watson Blair
- Seidenberg Civic Engagement Award: Nyosha Homicil, Prarthana Centhil
- Career Services Award: Steven Schiavone, Bhavesh Mhatre
- Seidenberg Scholars: Uday Brathwaite, Omari Brockington, Justin Kpana, Daniella Rabayev, Pratik Shah
- Summa Cum Laude: Michael Del Vecchio, Noor Huda, Lizi Imedashvili, Vansh Kanojia, Dayton Kiernan, Kseniya Liavitskaya, Jammie-Ann Matthias, Oluwadotun Obasa, Nicole Rossi, Caroline Zanuto-Winter
- Magna Cum Laude: Kainaat Babar, Jason Gonzalez, Benjamin Pearsall, Daniel Ramos, Edward Ramos, Cristopher Rizzi, Dillon Talactac, Grethel Vargas Garcia, Isaiah Zuppa
- Cum Laude: Genesis Andujar, Logan Anthony, Sian Billings, Nailah Brown, Robert Bunjaj, Anthony Gjivovich, Ari Kotler, Sasha Kulo, Gabriel Shkoza, Abin Thomas
- With Distinction: Daniel Belliveau, Cory Jenks, Ivan Luna, Brian O'Hanlon, James Pirrone, Jake Rappa
- Summa Cum Laude: Omari Brockington, Danny Cheng, Kara Cho, James Gengerke, Justin Kpana, Donovan Lane, Jonathan Lee, Joseph Logatto, Toni-Ann Mcdaniel, Meghan Moore, Brennan Moores, Day Shanks, Alexander Vasilevsky, Remington Williams, Jeffrey Yu
- Magna Cum Laude: Arjuman Hossain, Danial Bhatti, Daniella Rabayev, Jalyin Gonzalez, Jessica Williamson, Julia Walkuska, Mark Benders, Melody Nguyen, Pratik Kirit Shah, Sandeep Kumar, Sophia Chau, Steven Schiavone, Uday Brathwaite
- Cum Laude: Cristian Aguinada, Daisy Molina, Erjon Ahmetaj, Jack Yauri, Kenneth Hugh, Maren Hewitt, Raisa Begum, Sevastyan Olevinskiy, Connor Tway
- With Distinction: Brandon Barrett, Hunter Beveridge, Victor Farias

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School

Seidenberg School of CSIS

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91��Ƶ Hosts 9th Annual Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit and Announces New Endowed Scholarship

jdubuss2 — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:18:04 +0000

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91��Ƶ Hosts 9th Annual Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit and Announces New Endowed Scholarship jdubuss2 Wed, 06/03/2026 - 21:18

Press Release

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91��Ƶ welcomed policymakers, advocates, planners, attorneys, developers, and community leaders to campus last week for the 9th Annual Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit, hosted by the Land Use Law Center. The annual summit focused on advancing innovative and inclusive approaches to affordable housing across the Hudson Valley and New York State.

This year’s summit, titled Reframing Affordability: Creating a More Inclusive Affordable Housing Agenda, explored the urgent need for equitable housing solutions and brought together leaders from across sectors to discuss land use, zoning reform, sustainability, housing accessibility, and regional collaboration.

Throughout the day, speakers emphasized the growing housing affordability crisis facing communities across New York and highlighted the importance of partnerships between government, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector in addressing these challenges.

A particularly meaningful moment of the summit was a tribute honoring the legacy of Rose Noonan, JD ’84, a longtime affordable housing advocate and former Executive Director of the Housing Action Council (HAC). She dedicated her career to expanding access to fair and affordable housing throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond, becoming a widely respected leader in housing policy and advocacy.

During the event, the Housing Action Council and members of Rose Noonan’s family presented 91��Ƶ Haub Law with a $100,000 check establishing the endowed Rose Noonan Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will support 91��Ƶ Haub Law students who demonstrate financial need and an interest in affordable housing and sustainable development.

Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. described the scholarship as “a fitting tribute to a remarkable individual whose life’s work advanced affordable housing, strengthened communities, and expanded opportunity for those most in need.” He added that the scholarship “will both honor her legacy and extend her impact for generations to come.”

The tribute reflected her enduring impact on both the affordable housing community and 91��Ƶ Haub Law, where she earned her JD in 1984 and remained deeply connected throughout her career. Colleagues and friends reflected on her decades of leadership, mentorship, and commitment to advancing housing opportunities for underserved communities.

The summit also reinforced 91��Ƶ Haub Law’s longstanding leadership in land use and environmental law education and its commitment to preparing future lawyers and policymakers to address complex issues affecting communities throughout the region.

The Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit is organized annually by the Land Use Law Center at 91��Ƶ Haub Law and serves as a forum for collaboration and dialogue on housing policy, planning, and equitable community development.

Contains Video

School

Elisabeth Haub School of Law

91��Ƶ New York

Engineering His Own Path in Tech: Onye Ohiaeri '21

A Foundation for Success

From Student to Engineer at Amazon

Launching Something New

Turning Challenges into Opportunities

More from 91��Ƶ

Justices’ Ruling Will Help Gig Workers Take Companies to Court

World Cup Windfall Could Bypass Broadway

Politics of Naming

The Shadow Over Hong Kong

Law Passed Restricting ICE Activity in NYS

Teaching Under Threat: The Escalating Crisis Of Incivility And Unsafe Working Conditions In Nursing Academia

Fashion at the Library: Small Clothes, Big Stories: Fashion Dolls and the American Story

Seidenberg Class of 2026 Student Awards

2026 Seidenberg Student Award Winners

More from 91��Ƶ

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at 91��Ƶ Hosts 9th Annual Hudson Valley Affordable Housing Summit and Announces New Endowed Scholarship

More from 91��Ƶ