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.
Current Editor-in-Chief
Sabrina Sy
Class of 2023Sabrina is a fourth-year biomedical engineering student with a minor in gender and sexuality studies. Outside of class, she is the President of the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering (ASBME). She is also involved in research in the Cardiorespiratory Sleep Lab and serves as a Resident Advisor (RA) in McCarthy Honors College. In her free time, she enjoys tending to her houseplants, surfing at Sunset Beach, and listening to Beyoncé.
Current Editors
Kaylee Tseng
Class of 2023Kaylee is an undergraduate student studying Chemical Engineering with a Biochemistry emphasis. She is involved in a research lab focused on pancreatic beta cells, and is pursuing a Master’s degree through Viterbi’s Progressive Degree Program. In her free time, she enjoys doing crosswords, playing video games, and knitting.
Jackie Finnemeyer
Class of 2024Jackie is an undergraduate computer engineering and computer science student. After graduation, she hopes to become an engineer at NASA. In her free time, you will likely find her traveling, hiking, playing video games, or taking too many pictures of her two cats.
Jennah Saqib
Class of 2024Jennah is an undergraduate student studying Astronomical Engineering with a minor in Cinematic Arts. Outside of class, she is one of the dedicated leads of USC’s AeroDesign Team and a member of the USC Field Hockey Club. In her free time, she enjoys reading fantasy books, playing video games, and hiking.
Current Podcasting Team
Maya Neuenschwander
Class of 2024Maya is a third-year industrial and systems engineering student with a minor in international health, development, and social justice. She works as a Viterbi student ambassador to represent the engineering school to prospective students and alumni. She has been involved in interdisciplinary research studying healthcare inequities as a result of the COVID pandemic. In her free time, you will find her doing yoga, working as a photographer, and exploring nature.
Web Developers
Nia Rae Ignacio
Class of 2023Nia is a fourth-year undergraduate computer science student. After graduation, she hopes to work in industry as a Frontend or a Full-Stack Developer. In her free time, you will likely find her watching TV, playing video games, and shopping.
Founding Editors
Naajia Jami, Civil Engineering
Julia Levy, Astronautical Engineering
Former Editors-in-Chief
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
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
Former Web Developers
Justin Wilfred, Computer Engineering
Tuling Zhao, Computer Science and Business Administration
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.