Class of 2026 commencement speakers to share insights on growth, opportunities and valuing the student experience

By Elizabeth Egan

Maha Mir, graduating with her bachelor’s degree in computer science, will deliver her speech at the school’s undergraduate ceremony at 5 p.m., Sai Harshita Bhandaru, graduating with a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering, and Krish Vasantkumar Shah, graduating with a master’s degree in data science, will speak at the school’s two graduate ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

The three students were chosen through the annual SEAS Commencement Speaker Competition, where students submitted a three-minute speech, and finalists presented to a panel of faculty. Mir, Bhandaru and Shah were chosen based on the relevancy, content and delivery of their speeches, in addition to other aspects such as strong themes and messages of encouragement. 

When choosing a university for undergrad, Mir was attracted to large schools that offered a wide range of activities that students could pursue outside of the classroom. She determined UB to be the perfect fit.  

Having enjoyed math and technology in high school, Mir decided to combine her two interests and pursue a degree in computer science.

During her time at UB, Mir quickly got involved on campus, serving as a co-founder for the international undergraduate student association during her sophomore year.

“Being a part of a much bigger space for three years and seeing the club grow was a really great experience for me,” said Mir.

She also pursued a number of on campus jobs, including as a student assistant in the SEAS Office of Academic Affairs, a tour guide, peer mentor, tutor and more. She was recently recognized as UB’s 2026 student employee of the year.

“I really put my heart and soul into these jobs, so it is nice to be recognized,” said Mir. “It is also a great way to wrap up my time here.”

Mir said that if she could go back to her first day at UB and offer herself a piece of advice, it would be that a degree is made up of a bunch of compounded courses. It is important to not just get through every course but to really build on what she learned in the beginning as she still needed the content learned in her first year during her last year at UB.

After graduation, Mir plans to jump into industry, specifically in a role involving project management or AI and ethics.   

During her commencement address, Mir will discuss how UB was more than just an academic experience for her and how much effort people put in behind the scenes to develop all of the experiences students get to take part in.

Bhandaru’s decision to come to UB and study industrial and systems engineering with a concentration in human factors and ergonomics was shaped by a desire to change career paths.

Coming from a background in psychology, Bhandaru became interested in the field of user experience (UX) research and exploring how design can enhance usability and human interaction with technology.

Bhandaru noted that one of her proudest accomplishments has been successfully transitioning from a background in psychology and mass communications to earning a master’s degree in an engineering discipline. She noted that her time at UB has involved adapting to an entirely new academic framework while also being in a new country and learning to navigate life with independence and resilience.

A particularly significant accomplishment for Bhandaru was securing a summer internship as an UX design intern at Referrio.io, an AI-based job referral platform, within a few months of arriving to the United States.

“This achievement served as a strong validation of my direction and the effort I had invested in redefining my career path,” said Bhandaru.

Bhandaru also noted she takes pride in having been able to form relationships along the way that evolved into a close-knit support system that helped to make UB feel like home.  

If Bhandaru could go back to her first day at UB and offer herself a piece of advice, she said it would be to not forget to enjoy the journey.

“I would remind myself to worry a little less, be more present, and fully embrace every experience, because those moments — both difficult and joyful — are what shape you the most,” Bhandaru added.

After graduation, Bhandaru will be catching a flight to San Francisco to attend her older sister’s wedding before she starts on her career as a UX researcher.

During her commencement address, Bhandaru will discuss embracing change and growth through uncertainty.

“Ultimately, my message is about trusting the process, remaining open to new opportunities, and defining success on our own terms rather than through external expectations,” said Bhandaru.

When Shah was first introduced to UB at a recruitment event in India, he immediately felt that UB would be a place where he could challenge himself, meet people from different backgrounds and become a more confident version of himself while he pursued his degree in data science.

“I wanted to learn how data helps us find patterns, make better decisions, and build intelligent systems that solve real-world problems,” said Shah, noting that that he was motivated to understand how AI worked below the surface. “UB gave me exactly what I was hoping for, and more.”

Shah said yes to as many meaningful experiences as possible during his time at UB. He attended Indian Student Association events and other cultural events, worked multiple on-campus jobs, volunteered with the Graduate Student Association, enjoyed attending sporting events, and more.

Participating in a startup competition at UB ended up leading Shah to an internship opportunity after striking up a conversation with one of the judges after the competition.

Shah noted that as an international student, these activities helped UB to feel less like a campus that he was attending for school and more like a community he belonged to.

If Shah could go back and offer himself a piece of advice on his first day at UB, he said it would be to not be too hard on himself in the beginning.

“On the first day, everything feels bigger than you,” said Shah. “Over time, I learned that feeling lost does not necessarily mean you're failing. Sometimes it simply means you're growing.”

After graduation, Shah plans to continue building his career in data science, with a specific interest in using AI to improve supply chain efficiency.

In his commencement address, Shah plans to speak about showing up for opportunities, even when you don’t feel ready.

“My time at UB taught me that we cannot control every outcome. We cannot guarantee every result, every opportunity, or every answer,” said Shah. “But we can control whether we try, whether we ask, whether we take the next step, and whether we keep going.”