Ryan Kashanchi | Student Spotlight
Ryan Kashanchi
BS/MS Candidate
Chemical Engineering
"Growing up, my dad used to entertain me with made-up caricatures of the elements on the periodic table. “Hydrogen is very popular—you’ll find her everywhere; fluorine is very selfish—he’ll steal your electrons.” As a kid, these stories excited me about the different personalities each element had, and as I grew older, I became fascinated by how my father’s stories exhibited some semblance of chemical validity. I guess it’s no surprise that when I came to Stanford, I wanted a discipline that would keep me engaged with the individual elements on the periodic table that I’ve come to know and love, in addition to empowering me with a robust engineering skill set that I can take with me after university.
After completing my B.S./M.S. in Chemical Engineering, I intend on working in the medical device industry as an R&D Engineer for a couple of years. Eventually, I’ll evaluate whether I want to go to medical school or continue working as a biomedical engineer. There is also a slight chance I might completely pivot from healthcare and go into the food science industry – either way, I’m thankful that Chemical Engineering offers great versatility in that all of these choices are possible. Additionally, those who know me know that I have come to love teaching. Thus, I hope that somewhere along my career I’ll be able to work as a math and/or science lecturer at the community college level to help other aspiring engineers achieve their own ambitions.
What I’ll probably miss most about Stanford was my time in Kids With Dreams, a club on campus dedicated towards empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through social programming and educational content. Between our weekly basketball classes or yearly talent show, I am really going to miss the genuine friendships and connections I’ve made with the members of this amazing community. My experience in Kids With Dreams has demonstrated to me the importance of accessibility and inclusion in all facets of life, and I’m excited to bring these values with me as an incoming engineer in the workforce."
