College of Engineering and Applied Science

Forever Buffs Impact Story: Asaiah Gifford (MechEng’26)

Anna Tolette — Tue, 19 May 2026 21:11:45 +0000

Forever Buffs Impact Story: Asaiah Gifford (MechEng’26) Anna Tolette Tue, 05/19/2026 - 15:11

Among the record number of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder degrees conferred during the 2026 Commencement ceremony are countless stories of impact. Characterized by leadership and multidisciplinary perspectives, the next generation of Forever Buffs is carving unique paths and forging new ways to get there.

Asaiah Gifford (MechEng’26) left a legacy in engineering through her interdisciplinary path, which combined her technical interests with a global perspective. In addition to her BS in mechanical engineering, her minors in Spanish and global engineering have shaped a unique perspective on global leadership. She also left her mark on on-campus organizations, including Engineers Without Borders and serves as the outgoing president of the Alpha Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

What’s next for Asaiah? She’ll be pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering this fall, following an internship with the rocket manufacturing company United Launch Alliance this summer.

What led you to study mechanical engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

I knew I wanted to study engineering, and I initially started in aerospace. When I was a freshman, study abroad opportunities in that major were limited, so I switched into mechanical.

[Mechanical engineering] allowed me to study abroad in Spain, Singapore and Rwanda, but also because of the incredible faculty and staff and the uniquely awesome coursework, like building a drill-powered bike in Component Design.

How has studying Spanish and global engineering shaped your perspectives?

One of the greatest gifts of being a student at �鶹��Ѱ��is that it has allowed me to both seek out and create opportunities to serve and learn from communities, both locally and abroad. While completing my minors in Spanish and global engineering, I engaged in coursework that expanded my worldview. I learned about Spanish-speaking cultures across categories ranging from food to politics to film and media and explored global ways of thinking through the Herbst and Engineering Leadership programs.

This laid the foundation for my experiences abroad, such as my work on the Engineers Without Borders Guatemala team, traveling to rural Guatemala to monitor the water distribution aerial crossing we had previously implemented. On that trip, I learned firsthand that effective cross-cultural collaboration requires not just technical expertise but also a commitment to navigating complex organizational challenges and maintaining trust with the communities we serve.

I also completed a global seminar in Rwanda with the Engineering Leadership Program, which gave me the opportunity to collaborate directly with students at African Leadership University, to develop a platform that could cultivate cross-continental collaboration, reimagining what a ‘connected world’ really means.

How did you decide what you wanted your post-grad chapter to be and at what point of your journey?

I didn’t plan my post-grad path super early at all. I decided to start taking courses for the BAM program in my senior year, and I plan to stick with it next year. I always thought that a graduate degree required research, but the flexibility of the MS Professional through the mechanical engineering program made it enticing to me.

I connected with the internship opportunity I have this summer at one of the campus career fairs in the fall. Every opportunity I’ve taken has taught me something new about myself and my interests (or lack thereof), and now I’ve got another year to keep exploring and figure out what I’d like to do after graduating again next May.

What �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder experiences have best prepared you for your next chapter?

At CU, I participated in a wide array of social and professional organizations, from serving as the student-signer for New Era Colorado and as president of my sorority chapter to serving as a student researcher and much more. Engaging with this wide variety of networks and opportunities has also allowed me to explore fields ranging from aerospace to global and biomedical engineering and has equipped me with an amazing perspective on the value of a multidisciplinary engineer and person, which will inevitably manifest as I move forward.

What legacy would you like to leave behind?

I hope that future �鶹��Ѱ��engineers and students see paths like mine and feel that it’s feasible for them to pursue multiple interests, especially those that seem disconnected. I am so glad that I said yes to the opportunities �鶹��Ѱ��offered me, even though they didn’t all seem to lend themselves directly to my academic or professional future.

I am also excited about the future of National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations on campus and the increased connections among Black students through membership, which encourages them to serve their communities.

What advice would you give to current �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students?

Build relationships with people who invest in you and be purposeful about investing in yourself. If you see a gap or feel like there’s a community you don’t see on campus, know that it probably exists but needs to be poured into.

As a student, there may be opportunities you see that feel out of reach or too far away from the path that has been suggested to you. But by choosing to pursue the things (not limited to just one) that are important to you, you can find the professors, mentors and peers who will work with you to help you find or create the path you are trying to take.

What does being a Forever Buff mean to you?

I’m so excited to be a �鶹��Ѱ��alumna and to serve as a resource for future Buffs and the �鶹��Ѱ��community as I advance in my career. I want to inspire and motivate younger students to pursue their passions just like the alumni who inspired me. I’m also excited to connect with other Forever Buffs in the alumni network as I move to new places around the country and the world.

Connect with more inspiring graduates from the Class of 2026 on the Forever Buffs Network:

Join FBN

Support the next generation of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Engineers:

Give to Engineering

Characterized by leadership and multidisciplinary perspectives, the next generation of Forever Buffs is carving unique paths and forging new ways to get there. Asaiah Gifford (MechEng’26) left a legacy in engineering through her interdisciplinary path, which combined her technical interests with a global perspective.

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Top 10 most popular majors at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

Anna Tolette — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 20:18:31 +0000

Top 10 most popular majors at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Anna Tolette Mon, 08/11/2025 - 14:18

Julia MacLean

Choosing a major is one of the biggest decisions college students make, and at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, certain programs consistently lead the pack. Here are �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Fall 2024 most popular undergraduate majors by enrollment, which shows where students focus their time.

1. Psychology

Provides a fundamental understanding of the principles of human cognition, emotion, behavior, social interactions and mind-brain relationships.

2. Integrative Physiology

Includes the study of organisms as functioning systems of molecules, cells, tissues and organs. Focuses on whole-body function and its applications to human health and disease.

3. Finance

Emphasizes financial management, money and capital markets, investments and derivative securities, and financial institutions.

4. Aerospace Engineering

Teaches how to design, test and operate complex aerospace and related systems. Develops new technologies for use in commercial aviation, defense systems and space exploration.

5. Mechanical Engineering

Encompasses the general areas of design and manufacturing, fluid and solid mechanics, and thermal and materials science.

6. Marketing

Focuses on identifying customer needs and wants, developing products and services to meet those demands, establishing communications to promote products and services, and monitoring transactions and customer responses to guide future activities.

7. Computer Science

Emphasizes knowledge of computing at all levels, including circuits and computer architecture through operating systems, programming languages and large application systems.

8. Management

Focuses on business leadership and technical disciplines like sustainability, supply chains, operations, analytics, strategy and talent management.

9. Strategic Communications

Teaches students to be forward-looking communicators with the analytic, strategic, creative, critical thinking and tactical skills necessary to identify and solve problems.

10. Political Science

Includes how public policy is formulated, how laws are made, and the social and economic impact of those laws and policies.

As alumni, you can make a powerful impact on the success of students through mentoring, career talks or student networking events. Your support helps students in every major reach their fullest potential and navigate their futures with confidence.

Learn about volunteer opportunities

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Forever Buffs Impact: Q&A with Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan

Anna Tolette — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 16:29:12 +0000

Forever Buffs Impact: Q&A with Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan Anna Tolette Tue, 01/28/2025 - 09:29

Dani Martinez

As a Boettcher Scholar, Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan (EngrPhys’16) found �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder to be the perfect place to blend her passions for engineering, entrepreneurship, leadership and dance. Today, she channels her entrepreneurial spirit as the founder and CEO of LiquidiFi, while also consulting in data science and engineering.

Her dedication to solving large-scale challenges matches her enduring connection to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. Through her involvement with �鶹��Ѱ��Venture Partners and the Forever Buffs Advisory Board, Gopalakrishnan strengthens community networks and inspires the next generation of Forever Buffs.

Since graduating, what has been your most rewarding experience as part of the Forever Buffs community?

On the Forever Buffs Advisory Board, I have developed lifelong friendships, learned so much more about the university and its rich history than I could have ever imagined, and had many unique and memorable experiences with my fellow board members.

As a mentor for �鶹��Ѱ��Venture Partners entrepreneurs, I’ve had a chance to see how much the innovation ecosystem at �鶹��Ѱ��has evolved and grown. I have been fortunate to see some of my mentees develop their startup ideas into flourishing companies and significantly impact the world.

What is the Forever Buffs Advisory Board?

I like to describe the Forever Buffs Advisory Board as a sample of the eyes and ears of the broader �鶹��Ѱ��Forever Buffs community.

We engage deeply with the �鶹��Ѱ��community in different ways and learn from leaders across campus. Synthesizing that knowledge and those experiences, we offer informed advice and recommendations on a variety of topics that are top of mind for �鶹��Ѱ��alumni.

What motivates you to stay involved in the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder community?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder works incredibly hard to meet alumni where they’re at and evolve to truly serve the wants and needs of a very diverse body of alumni. CU’s commitment to supporting its alumni in a multitude of ways inspires me to stay involved.

What would you say to a fellow Buff who’s curious about getting involved?

Find an aspect of engagement about which you are passionate, and dive in! �鶹��Ѱ��stands out as a university and organization that truly values the engagement of its alumni in any shape or form, and reconnecting with fellow Forever Buffs can impact your life in ways that may surprise you.

I decided to start volunteering with �鶹��Ѱ��Venture Partners on a whim during COVID-19. Because of this decision, I now have my own �鶹��Ѱ��spinout company and two former mentees making tremendous strides with their ventures!

What makes you proud to be a Forever Buff?

I’m proud that every other Forever Buff alongside whom I work, mentor, volunteer, etc., is making an impact on the world in some shape or form across so many different fields.

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College of Engineering and Applied Science

Forever Buffs Impact Story: Asaiah Gifford (MechEng’26)

What led you to study mechanical engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

How has studying Spanish and global engineering shaped your perspectives?

How did you decide what you wanted your post-grad chapter to be and at what point of your journey?

What �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder experiences have best prepared you for your next chapter?

What legacy would you like to leave behind?

What advice would you give to current �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students?

What does being a Forever Buff mean to you?

Related Articles

Top 10 most popular majors at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

1. Psychology

2. Integrative Physiology

3. Finance

4. Aerospace Engineering

5. Mechanical Engineering

6. Marketing

7. Computer Science

8. Management

9. Strategic Communications

10. Political Science

Related Articles

Forever Buffs Impact: Q&A with Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan

Since graduating, what has been your most rewarding experience as part of the Forever Buffs community?

What is the Forever Buffs Advisory Board?

What motivates you to stay involved in the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder community?

What would you say to a fellow Buff who’s curious about getting involved?

Off

College of Engineering and Applied Science

Forever Buffs Impact Story: Asaiah Gifford (MechEng’26)

What led you to study mechanical engineering at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder?

How has studying Spanish and global engineering shaped your perspectives?

How did you decide what you wanted your post-grad chapter to be and at what point of your journey?

What �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder experiences have best prepared you for your next chapter?

What legacy would you like to leave behind?

What advice would you give to current �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder students?

What does being a Forever Buff mean to you?

Related Articles

Top 10 most popular majors at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder

1. Psychology

2. Integrative Physiology

3. Finance

4. Aerospace Engineering

5. Mechanical Engineering

6. Marketing

7. Computer Science

8. Management

9. Strategic Communications

10. Political Science

Related Articles

Forever Buffs Impact: Q&A with Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan

Since graduating, what has been your most rewarding experience as part of the Forever Buffs community?

What is the Forever Buffs Advisory Board?

What motivates you to stay involved in the �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder community?

What would you say to a fellow Buff who’s curious about getting involved?

Off

What led you to study mechanical engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

What �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder experiences have best prepared you for your next chapter?

What advice would you give to current �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students?

Top 10 most popular majors at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

What motivates you to stay involved in the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder community?