The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) held an undergraduate town hall on Sept. 24, an event designed to provide guidance for students early in their academic journey. Led by Jaydev Desai, associate chair for undergraduate studies, the gathering was an opportunity for students to become acquainted with the resources available to them and learn how to navigate the demands of the BME program.

Organized with freshmen in mind, the town hall created a space for students to learn more about the support network available to them. Desai, joined by Academic Operations Manager Tanya Frierson and the BME academic team — Lisa Lewis-Fears, Kat Wilkinson, Myles Mann, and Paul Fincannon — made sure students understood who to turn to for guidance on everything from career planning to course selection. They also introduced the Biomedical Engineering Student Advisory Board (bmedSAB), a liaison between students and the department’s faculty and staff, ensuring that student perspectives are represented.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have an outstanding group of BME students. The BME undergraduate academic office and myself are here to help in any way we can, to ensure their success,” said Desai.

The event opened with icebreakers, before shifting into practical tools and advice for students to manage their courses. A key focus was on the core and electives for the BME program, familiarizing students with how they can align their coursework with their interests.

“It is important for all BME undergraduate students to be empowered to understand the department curriculum and its requirements,” said Fincannon. “The town hall was a great opportunity to talk about curricular requirements and answer any questions students had about their course path in BME going forward.”

The town hall also offered students valuable insights into career services. The discussion highlighted the range of support available—from resume reviews to guidance on where to find internships and job opportunities, including tools like Georgia Tech’s job board, CareerBuzz. Students were reminded that they don’t have to navigate their career paths alone—there’s help every step of the way.

As the event drew to a close, students got the chance to connect with each other and engage with the whole academic team, asking questions about their academic journey and career plans.