Our Mission
Viterbi Conversations in Ethics is an educational forum for reasoned, informed, and relevant discussion of engineering ethics. Written, edited, and published by USC Viterbi School of Engineering students, Viterbi Conversations in Ethics will publish exceptional student work and responses, counter-points, and new perspectives from both peers and professionals.
History
In 2013, Viterbi Conversations in Ethics was conceived at the USC School of Engineering as a way to showcase undergraduate student writing about ethics in the engineering professions and to highlight the important role of ethics in engineering. We in the Engineering Writing Program believe that our students must begin to see themselves as professionals within a larger community of thinkers and writers, and this is an opportunity for these students to enter into the larger professional conversation about ethics and to invite comment from other students and professionals.
Viterbi Conversations in Ethics is funded by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Office of the Dean. Seed money was also provided by the USC Fund for Innovative Undergraduate Teaching.
Core Team
Viterbi Conversation in Ethics’ core team is composed of student editors. Our staff also includes web developers and faculty advisors.
Editor-in-Chief
Mary Karapetyan
Class of 2026Mary is an undergraduate studying Computer Engineering and Computer Science. A Los Angeles native, she enjoys traveling, playing guitar, and soccer. She’s passionate about diving into the digital universe, where programming and innovative technology converge, contributing to the breakthroughs that shape the world of tomorrow.
Editors
Maohe (Mo) Jiang
Class of 2027Maohe (Mo) Jiang is a committed Computer Engineering and Computer Science student at the University of Southern California with a strong interest in AI and its societal applications. As a journal editor for USC Viterbi Conversation in Ethics and a student researcher, he explores innovative technology solutions in fields such as online information space.
Kariena Panpaliya
Class of 2027Kariena Panpaliya is an actress, director, and film editor pursuing a dual degree in Film & TV Production and Computer Science Games at the University of Southern California. She is passionate about using technology in the Film, TV, and Games industries–discovering new and ethical ways technology can make films better, and make better films. She also loves making YouTube videos, reading, dancing, and spending time in the forest.
Alice Steele
Class of 2026Alice Steele is an undergraduate studying Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a minor in Narrative Structure. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Alice is passionate about the ways in which technology can preserve and work for the benefit of nature. She spends her time outside the classroom reading, hiking, crocheting, and playing instruments.
Podcasting Team
Parth Chaudhary
Class of 2026Parth is a Master’s student in Analytics at the Viterbi School of Engineering, with a mild obsession with Optimization models, a deep love for Data, and an unhealthy number of Chrome tabs open at any given moment. He’s magnetically drawn to anything involving numbers be it Chess tactics or spotting patterns that most people scroll right past (his mild OCD says hi).
He believes storytelling and statistics are a match made in analytical heaven. Outside the data bubble, Parth is a die-hard Bollywood fanatic, and a certified movie buff. You’ll hear his voice on the VCE podcast, probably mid-rant about Math, Cinema, or the elegance of a good regression line. If you ever spot someone at VCE typing intensely while humming Bollywood tunes it’s probably Parth.
Shivam Pravin Bhosale
Class of 2026Shivam Bhosale is a Master’s student in Applied Data Science, bringing 1.5 years of industry experience as a Software Engineer at Adobe. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. At USC, his interests lie in Artificial Intelligence, and he is an active member of the USC Liquid Propulsion Lab. Outside of academics, Shivam enjoys playing table tennis, basketball, swimming, and playing the guitar!
Kayden-Harmony Greenstein
Class of 2027Kayden-Harmony is an undergraduate student studying English on the creative writing track and Cinema and Media Studies. Outside of VCE, Kayden is a showrunner for Trojan Vision’s “Campus Crush” dating game show. In her free time she enjoys conducting photoshoots, reading, writing poetry, and playing guitar. Kayden is part of the graduating class of 2027.
Sandra Al Hames
Class of 2027Sandra is a third year student majoring in astronautical engineering and mathematics. Outside of the classroom, Sandra founded Quantum Engineering Ethics, a Viterbi Student Organization committed to creating a community of quantum-curious students centered around ethics. In her free time she likes go to kayaking, cook, hike, and play the piano!
Web Developers
Abi Kakolla
Class of 2027Abi is an undergraduate studying Computer Science with a strong interest in the intersection of neuroscience and machine learning. Outside of class, he is passionate about improving computing efficiency and diving into research. He also enjoys calisthenics and engaging in philosophical discussions with people.
Founding Editors
Naajia Jami, Civil Engineering
Julia Levy, Astronautical Engineering
Former Editors-in-Chief
Sabrina Sy, Biomedical Engineering
Isabel Brieler, Astronautical Engineering
Rebecca Thoss, Chemical Engineering
Rachel Longjohn, Computational and Applied Mathematics
Brandon Chew, Chemical Engineering
Isabel Yarwood-Perez, Mechanical Engineering
Teagan Ampe, Computer Science
Jackie Finnemeyer, Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Janessi Diaz, Biology
Former Editors
Michael Delucia, Computer Science
Meera Gorjala, Public Policy and Environmental Studies
Laura Cook, Chemical Engineering
Ayman Siraj, Chemical Engineering
Tsung-Han Stephen Sher, Computer Science
Sharada Rayan, Computer Science and Business Administration
Krishnan Raman, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Anush Kadoyan, Computer Science
Nicole Pay, Mechanical Engineering
Tiarnan McCaffrey, Mechanical Engineering
Huaning “Wendy” Wang, Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Babikian, Biomedical Engineering
Connor Buckley, Computer Science
Tyler Amano-Smerling, Computer Science: Games
Kaylee Tseng, Chemical Engineering
Jennah Saqib, Astronomical Engineering
Simon Lewis, Computer Science
Rachel Pak, Astronautical Engineering
Former Podcasters
Aryan Shah, Data Science
Deep Shah, Computer Science
Former Web Developers
Nia Ignacio, Computer Science
Justin Wilfred, Computer Engineering
Tuling Zhao, Computer Science and Business Administration
Yifei Lu, Computer Science
Faculty Advisors
Martha J. Townsend teaches in the Engineering Writing Program at USC and serves as the founding and current Faculty Advisor to Viterbi Conversations in Ethics.