Panelists:

  Dr. Kathleen Kramer, Past IEEE President and Professor at USD, San Diego

 Dr. Vaishnav Srinivas, VP of Technology, Qualcomm

Adrian Nunez Rocha, University Relations Manager, Qualcomm

Abir Chermiti, Program Manager, IEEE Industry Engagement 

Megha Ben, CS BoG and Chair of the IEEE CS Career Catalyst Program

Yuhong Liu of Santa Clara University

This talk will offer students and emerging professionals an overview of IEEE Computer Society, the world’s leading technical community dedicated to computer science and software engineering. The session will also provide insight for attendees to get into key professional development resources, and detail actionable pathways for active involvement.

Biography:

Dr. Yuhong Liu, Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Santa Clara University. Her research interests include responsible and trustworthy AI, security and privacy of emerging applications, such as multi-agentic AI interactions at the grid edge, online social media, Internet-of-things and Blockchain. She is currently serving as an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems for Video Technology (TCSVT), IEEE Transactions of Service Computing (TSC), and Multimedia Tools and Applications (MTAP). She serves as the Secretary of IEEE Computer Society (CS) 2026, the IEEE CS Board of Governors member (2025-2027), and Treasurer of the IEEE CS Technical and Conference Activities Board. She is a recipient of the IEEE CS Distinguished Contributor (2025) and Technical & Conference Activity Board Rising Star Service Award (2023). She has served as the Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Technical Meeting Request Committee (TMRC), the Chair of the IEEE CS Geographic Activities Committee (2025), IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Visitor (2022~2024), and the IEEE Computer Society Region 6 area 4 coordinator (2021~2024). She has been Chair of the IEEE Computer Society Special Technical Communities (2019-2020, and 2022-2023). 

Christina Brophy of Maritime Museum of San Diego

Biography:

Christina Connett Brophy has built a decades-long career as a museum executive with extensive curatorial experience and demonstrated success in developing significant strategic partnerships, major capital projects, fundraising, innovative programming, and institutional vision. She currently serves as President and CEO of Maritime Museum of San Diego. She’s a past Senior Vice President at Mystic Seaport Museum, a contributor and editor of numerous publications on themes from marine mammal bioacoustics to fine art, to maritime history, and was Editor in Chief and founder of Mystic Seaport Museum’s new peer reviewed journal, Mainsheet: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Maritime Studies. Christina has lectured extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East on maritime history, fine art, and cartography. She holds degrees from Northwestern University (BA), the University of Auckland (MA), and the University of Valencia (PhD). A lifelong mariner, Dr. Connett Brophy grew up aboard the R/V Geronimo tagging sharks and turtles throughout the Atlantic for the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Archie Carr Foundation, respectively, and now sails her own vessel in New England and beyond. She looks forward to sailing year-round in San Diego with her husband Gary.

Kathy Hayashi of IEEE USA

Biography:

Kathy Herring Hayashi has been involved in the semiconductor industry her entire career — developing, deploying and analyzing advanced software tools instrumental in the creation of computer and mobile phone chips. At Unisys Corporation, she was involved in research and development for advanced in-house CAD software tools. After transitioning to Cadence Design Systems, these tools were incorporated into leading edge EDA solutions. As Director at Syntricity, she led pioneering efforts in web hosted semiconductor yield solutions. Later, at Qualcomm Inc., she optimized semiconductor workflows in global engineering environments.

She served on the 2023–2024 IEEE Board of Directors, IEEE-USA Board, and IEEE Member Geographic Activities Board, and now serves on the Board of Governors for IEEE-HKN, championing the next generation of technology leaders. Kathy delivered presentations at the OECD’s Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network, participated in a U.S. congressional briefing panel, and was invited to the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) summit. She got elected as the 2026 IEEE USA President-Elect.