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
Janessi Diaz
Class of 2025Janessi Diaz is a third year Biology student with a minor in Screenwriting. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer and reading. She also loves to crochet beanies with Madhatter Knitts for babies in the NICU and is a proud sister of KDChi, one of USC’s Multicultural Greek Council organizations.
Current Editors
Rachel Pak
Class of 2025Rachel is an undergraduate student studying Astronautical Engineering with a minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures. Outside of class, she is a peer tutor for USC’s Viterbi Learning Program. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks while listening to music and reading books while drinking coffee.
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.
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 is a transfer sophomore student studying Computer Science Games and Cinematic Arts. She is interested in discovering new and ethical ways technology can make films better, and make better films. She loves film editing, acting, reading, dancing, cooking, and making YouTube videos.
Current Podcasting Team
Aryan Shah
Class of 2025Aryan is a graduate student pursuing Data Science at USC. Outside of the class, you would find him either trying some new piece of tech or exploring some new random dataset. Aryan also happens to be a author of a research paper studying implications of Covid19 on mental health of people and how that translates to social media.
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.
Deep Shah
Class of 2025Deep is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science, with an expected graduation date in May 2025. He is passionate about learning algorithms and enjoys delving into philosophy during his free time. In addition, Deep takes a keen interest in trading the securities markets.
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
Yifei Lu
Class of 2025Yifei is a third-year undergraduate computer science student. After graduation, she hopes to become a software engineer. In her free time, you will likely find her watching TV, going to the gym, and online shopping.
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
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
Former Web Developers
Nia Ignacio, Computer Science
Justin Wilfred, Computer Engineering
Tuling Zhao, Computer Science and Business Administration
Simon Lewis, 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.