Biosketch
Riya Jeena is a Computer Engineering student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and now lives in Leominster. Riya was drawn to engineering by her love of problem-solving and her interest in hardware and robotics. She is especially interested in how technology can move beyond solving problems to creating meaningful change in people’s lives.
During the summer of 2026, Riya worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Heterogeneous Systems Benchmarking within UMass Lowell’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her research focused on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) based computing, including the development of a computational accelerator for a volatile organic compounds (VOC) detecting mobile robot. This experience gave her the opportunity to work more closely with hardware and further explore her interests in robotics and computer engineering.
Beyond academics and research, Riya is involved across the UMass Lowell community as a River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA) Peer Leader, Research, Academics and Mentoring Pathways (RAMP) Club Treasurer, and Francis College of Engineering Ambassador. As an RHSA Peer Leader, she mentors first-year engineering students as they transition into college. Through this role, she has found that one of the most rewarding parts of leadership is helping others build confidence and navigate challenges. To Riya, being a good leader means listening to others, offering support, and making sure people feel comfortable asking for help.
Riya was drawn to the Shah Academy because of its strong emphasis on mentorship, leadership development, and community. She is excited by the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals while being surrounded by peers with different experiences and perspectives. She hopes the program will help her grow as a leader, learn from others, and become someone who can make a positive impact on the people she works with.
Looking ahead, Riya hopes to build a career that combines her background in Computer Engineering with opportunities to lead teams and projects. She wants to continue growing both technically and professionally while using her experiences to mentor and support others along the way.