Big dreams carried Arya Rajesh Chandrawanshi more than 7,000 miles from India to Fairfax, Virginia. Her curiosity, discipline, and determination to build a future in advanced technology led her to George Mason University, where she’s pursuing a master’s in computer engineering as a full‑time student.
Chandrawanshi chose George Mason not just for its welcoming community, but for its academic reputation and professional opportunities. “It has an excellent curriculum, research opportunities, and experienced faculty,” she said. From her very first semester, she knew she had made the right choice.
Her passion for understanding the inner workings of technology made her program an ideal fit. “I chose computer engineering because I was always fascinated about how hardware and software work together,” she said. “This program gives me that exact picture, from embedded systems to artificial intelligence.”
Inside and outside the classroom, Chandrawanshi has found support, structure, and room to grow. Her graduate experience includes a wide range of high‑level technical projects. “I have done projects as a graduate student from neuromorphic computing to GPU programming,” she said, noting that George Mason’s lab access and equipment made hands‑on exploration possible. “The lab experiences were really wonderful,” she said.
But her journey isn’t only about academics. George Mason has also opened doors to experiences she didn’t have access to at home. “I try to explore everything that I couldn't do in India,” she said, reflecting on clubs, organizations, social events, and new communities.
Looking ahead, Chandrawanshi is both focused and optimistic. “I wanted to work as an AI system engineer or an embedded system engineer. That's why I chose the program,” she said. The support she’s received has shaped not only her goals, but also her confidence in reaching them. “George Mason taught me to dream big and chase them and to own them and to live in the moment,” she said.
Her aspirations include staying in the United States to continue building her career and contributing to the rapidly evolving field of computer engineering.
Whether it’s her projects, her research, or her drive to build a meaningful future, Arya’s journey at George Mason is rooted in gratitude and boldness.
“I love this place,” she said.