UVA School of Engineering and Applied Science

This week, our 2026 Dean's Undergraduate Research Fellows showcased the projects they've spent the summer pursuing alongside UVA Engineering faculty mentors.

From tackling complex engineering challenges to developing new skills in the lab, these 29 students experienced firsthand what it means to create knowledge — not just learn it.

Congratulations to this outstanding cohort for a summer of discovery, innovation, and research that will shape their futures!

Taking a few minutes to recharge can make all the difference. 🧘

Last week, UVA Engineering faculty and staff took a break to learn some simple chair yoga techniques that can be incorporated into daily routines to reduce stress, improve focus and encourage movement throughout the day.

After stretching and unwinding together, everyone enjoyed a well-deserved ice cream treat to cool off from the summer heat.

Supporting our faculty and staff's well-being is an important part of fostering a collaborative, innovative community, and sometimes that starts with a few deep breaths, a good stretch and a some ice cream.

🌍⚽ 1,248 players. 48 teams. 104 matches. One UVA Engineering alum helping make it all work.

When FIFA needed a smarter way to manage the world’s biggest sporting event, UVA Engineering graduate Matthew Geary helped lead the team behind Lenovo’s Intelligent Command Center—a platform that brings together real-time tournament operations while keeping the experience human-centered.

One of his favorite features? The “Wall of Joy,” an AI-powered display that brings fans’ celebrations from around the world into FIFA’s operations center, reminding decision-makers who they’re ultimately serving.

From studying biomedical engineering at UVA to designing technology used on the global stage, Geary’s career is proof that engineering is about solving real problems for real people.

Read more at engineering.virginia.edu.

UVA Engineering will help shape the future of UVA.

Dean Jennifer L. West has been appointed by President Scott Beardsley to serve as co-chair of the University of Virginia’s strategic planning committee, bringing UVA Engineering’s perspective to the collaborative effort that will guide the University’s next strategic plan.

Joining her on the committee is Professor Devin Harris, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who will also represent UVA Engineering in this important work.

Together, the committee will build on ideas gathered from the UVA community to help chart the University’s future in education, research, health care and public service.

🚀 UVA Engineering students are reaching new heights!

At the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) held in Midland, Texas, last month, UVA’s Rocketry Team earned first place for the best launch livestream, showcasing their engineering and creativity to judges around the world.

The team also received second place for its technical report, a comprehensive 100-page document detailing the design, construction and testing of its rocket. Competing against 140 teams, the Rocketry Team also finished in the top 10 in the altitude competition after defending last year’s national championship.

Experiences like these give UVA Engineering students the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, collaborate as a team and develop the technical and leadership skills that prepare them for successful careers.

Congratulations to the UVA Rocketry Team on an outstanding performance! 💙🧡

UVA Engineering faculty and students are presenting 28 papers spanning more than ten ASEE divisions during the 2026 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference, a testament to the school's commitment to putting people at the center of engineering and innovation: https://engineering.virginia.edu/news-events/news/uva-engineering-makes-strong-showing-asee-2026

UVA Rocketry is in Midland, Texas, this week to compete in the 2026 International Rocket Engineering Competition! The team participated in a flight safety review on Tuesday and is scheduled to launch their Sabre III rocket on Wednesday morning.

Some things never change.

The friendships forged in labs, late-night study sessions, design projects, and long walks across Grounds have a way of lasting a lifetime. This weekend, generations of UVA Engineers—from the Class of 1966 to the Class of 2021—returned to reconnect, reminisce, and inspire one another.

Reunions remind us that a UVA Engineering degree is more than an education. It’s a lifelong community that spans industries, generations, and continents, united by a shared commitment to making the world a better place.

Thank you to everyone who came home this weekend. Here’s to the memories we’ve made—and the ones still to come.

🧡💙

The Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering held its 2026 diploma ceremony in Darden Court. See more photos from Final Exercises: https://engineering.virginia.edu/news-events/news/photos-2026-final-exercises

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering celebrated the Class of 2026 during its diploma ceremony in the McIntire Amphitheater. See more photos from Final Exercises: https://engineering.virginia.edu/about-our-school/celebrating-class-2026