Image
Students
Dreaming, Belonging, Thriving: Riya GolaniŮٱƵs Tech Journey
At ŮٱƵ, Go-Getters donŮٱƵt just learnŮٱƵthey lead. And Riya Golani (MS in Computer Science ŮٱƵ25) is no exception. As a masterŮٱƵs student at the Seidenberg School, sheŮٱƵs turning challenges into milestones, passion into purpose, and a dream of NYC into a career at Amazon.
From a Dream to a Decision
ŮٱƵNew York City was always a far-fetched dream for meŮٱƵI never thought it would actually be possible,ŮٱƵ Riya recalls. But a desire for growth and a feeling of stagnation at her former job sparked a realization: she needed to upskill, and NYC became the symbol of that next step. ŮٱƵI wanted a place where I could grow, learn, and push myself further.ŮٱƵ
During her search for schools with strong computer science programs, Pace stood out. ŮٱƵI chose Pace without hesitation. It wasnŮٱƵt just about NYC anymoreŮٱƵit was about the experience and education that would truly be worth something,ŮٱƵ she says. SeidenbergŮٱƵs wide range of electives and flexible curriculum sealed the deal.
That flexibility made me feel comfortable, like I belonged. It was the right decision then, and looking back now, I know it was one of the best decisions IŮٱƵve ever made.
A Class That Changed Everything
For Riya, one particular Seidenberg course the trajectory of her technical path: Enterprise Computing with Professor Baik Doosan. ŮٱƵBefore that, I struggled to grasp even the most basic concepts like APIs or Git. But Professor Baik didnŮٱƵt just teachŮٱƵhe immersed us in real-world applications, pouring his industry experiences into every lecture.ŮٱƵ
Guided by his mentorship, RiyaŮٱƵs class tackled an event exploration project, one that challenged and empowered her. ŮٱƵThis was my first full MERN stack projectŮٱƵbefore that, I had only worked on backend solutions. That class gave me the confidence to start developing my own MERN stack projects, and it completely changed the direction of my technical journey.ŮٱƵ
Professor Baik didnŮٱƵt just stay in the classroom. He became a mentor beyond itŮٱƵsupporting Riya through her job search, interview prep, and career decisions.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
From the Data Science Club and the Google Developer Group to Women in Tech and the Art Club, Riya also dove into the UniversityŮٱƵs extracurricular scene with enthusiasm.
Pace has an incredibly inclusive culture, and that has allowed me to explore so much beyond just academics.
One major milestone? Representing the Pace AI Lab at the Grace Hopper Celebration. ŮٱƵThat experience gave me a huge confidence boost and taught me the invaluable skill of networking and expressing my work effectively.ŮٱƵ
She also played a big role in organizing community and cultural events, including the Diwali Celebration and various tech talks. ŮٱƵWhatŮٱƵs special about Seidenberg is the accessibility of the faculty and administration. Dean Chen is always reachableŮٱƵI can literally walk up to her, and if she has even a few minutes, sheŮٱƵll make time to listen.ŮٱƵ
Among all of these extracurricular leadership positions and activities, Riya also had the time to work as a graduate assistant at Seidenberg. ŮٱƵEven though IŮٱƵm a Computer Science student, I wasnŮٱƵt limited to just CS work. I had the chance to work on SeidenbergŮٱƵs social media, thanks to Pace AI LabŮٱƵs co-director Katie Todd, who believed in my skills and gave me that opportunity.ŮٱƵ
A Supportive Community Like No Other
When asked to briefly describe her Seidenberg experience, Riya said that there are three things that stand out to her:
Inclusivity ŮٱƵ ŮٱƵSeidenberg welcomes everyone with open arms.ŮٱƵ
Access to Resources ŮٱƵ ŮٱƵFrom career services to faculty mentorship, support is everywhere.ŮٱƵ
Immense Support ŮٱƵ ŮٱƵThe people here genuinely care, and that makes all the difference.ŮٱƵ
From starting as a student assistant at Lubin to now being a graduate assistant at Seidenberg and working in the Pace AI Lab, RiyaŮٱƵs Pace opportunities have shaped her career. ŮٱƵSeidenberg is a place that made me feel at home in a new city, in a new phase of life. The professors, administration, and career counselors were always there for me.ŮٱƵ
Whenever I needed guidance, I just had to ask, and I received so much love and support.
And the result of all RiyaŮٱƵs incredible determination and experiences? ŮٱƵI got into Amazon as an SDE1 before graduating. That wouldnŮٱƵt have been possible without Seidenberg. I owe it to this school.ŮٱƵ
Riya GolaniŮٱƵs story is more than a studentŮٱƵs journeyŮٱƵit embodies the spirit of Pace: opportunity, empowerment, transformation, and most importantly, a community that truly cares.
More from Pace
Students
Brennan Moores came to ŮٱƵ to create. A BA in Computer Science major with a minor in Game Development, Brennan was a passionate game developer enrolling into college who wanted to find a program in which he could help build a community where creative experimentation could thrive.
Students
The 2025 AI Internship Experience (AIIE) at ŮٱƵŮٱƵs Seidenberg School recently concluded, offering students two weeks of immersive, hands-on learning in one of todayŮٱƵs most transformative technologies: artificial intelligence.
Students
When it comes to unwinding, gaming is often at the top of the list of go-to methodsŮٱƵbut for Pace students, especially Seidenberg technology students, itŮٱƵs a lifestyle. When a group of gaming and computer science students attended the Games for Change Festival, there was plenty to get excited about.