Convocation speaker Abhirup Gunakar leads with empathy
Abhirup Vijay Gunakar speaks on stage during the convocation ceremony for the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering on May 8. Photo by Erika Gronek/ASU
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable
For Abhirup Vijay Gunakar, computer science isn’t just about code. It’s about leading complex systems made up of both technology and people.
“Computer science is a deeply human field,” he says. “It requires empathy, integrity, leadership and the ability to bring different perspectives together.”
This spring, Gunakar graduates from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, with a master’s degree in computer science through the Accelerated Master’s program.
Named an Impact Award recipient, he has built a record defined by leadership at scale, global research and a commitment to making engineering more accessible.
As president of the Google Developer Student Club at ASU, Gunakar led a 23-member executive board serving more than 3,000 students. He also directed Innovation Hacks 2.0, ASU’s largest spring hackathon, bringing together hundreds of participants from across the U.S. and securing support from major industry partners.
His leadership extended beyond student organizations into university governance. As a member and sole student representative on the Fulton Schools Curriculum Committee, Gunakar worked alongside faculty and administrators to help shape academic programs, ensuring student perspectives were included in decisions that affect thousands.
At the same time, he built a strong technical foundation through research and global experience. Working under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Adil Ahmad, he conducted systems research on Linux kernel security, culminating in a presentation at the Open Source Summit Europe 2025 in Amsterdam.
Through DAAD RISE and RISE Professional fellowships, he spent two summers in Germany collaborating with international teams on projects ranging from virtual reality systems to software infrastructure. During this time, he also presented his research to former German Federal Minister Peter Altmaier at an entrepreneurship conference.
That ability to operate across disciplines and cultures became a defining part of his growth.
“Engineering isn’t just about a single major,” he says. “It’s about the ability to communicate and solve problems as a global community.”
Gunakar also focused on mentorship and outreach. Through initiatives like Desert CodeSprouts, a community outreach program, he worked to teach cybersecurity concepts to K–12 students, translating complex ideas into engaging, accessible experiences for younger learners.
After graduation, he plans to pursue a doctorate in computer systems security and lead teams building the secure, scalable systems that power the world’s digital infrastructure.
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