UROP Team
Dr. Andrew Carter
Program Director
Dr. Andrew Carter is the program director and co-creator of SJSU UROP. With a passion
for fostering the intellectual growth and innovation of the next generation of scholars,
Dr. Carter seeks to empower underrepresented undergraduate students via engagement
in diverse research experiences.
As program director, he is responsible for managing day-to-day programmatic operations,
including facilitating faculty/student research partnerships, advising UROP peer mentors,
and leading the program’s campus and community outreach efforts. Dr. Carter also spearheads
UROP’s curricular vision; he developed and teaches the year-long, 4-unit curriculum
(EDLD 10 & 11).
Dr. Carter is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and Recreation.
His research interests include health disparities, food systems, community-based participatory
research, and intercultural communication. A primary feature of his work explores
how Black farmers challenge norms, power inequities, and structural barriers in the
agriculture industry to preserve their cultural legacies and use farming as a vehicle
to address broader social, public health, and economic disparities across the Black
diaspora. He has published work in disciplinary diverse academic journals such as
Health Communication, Communication Theory, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise,
and Health, Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, and Critical Public Health.
Dr. Andrew Carter
Program Director
Dr. Andrew Carter is the program director and co-creator of SJSU UROP. With a passion
for fostering the intellectual growth and innovation of the next generation of scholars,
Dr. Carter seeks to empower underrepresented undergraduate students via engagement
in diverse research experiences.
As program director, he is responsible for managing day-to-day programmatic operations,
including facilitating faculty/student research partnerships, advising UROP peer mentors,
and leading the program’s campus and community outreach efforts. Dr. Carter also spearheads
UROP’s curricular vision; he developed and teaches the year-long, 4-unit curriculum
(EDLD 10 & 11).
Dr. Carter is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and Recreation.
His research interests include health disparities, food systems, community-based participatory
research, and intercultural communication. A primary feature of his work explores
how Black farmers challenge norms, power inequities, and structural barriers in the
agriculture industry to preserve their cultural legacies and use farming as a vehicle
to address broader social, public health, and economic disparities across the Black
diaspora. He has published work in disciplinary diverse academic journals such as
Health Communication, Communication Theory, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise,
and Health, Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, and Critical Public Health.
Jahmal Williams
Program Founder
Jahmal Williams is the founder of SJSU UROP. Williams brought the idea of the program
to campus and spearheaded its creation and early infrastructure in fall 2019. He supports
UROP's strategic vision and is an active thought partner in programmatic decisions.
On campus, Williams currently serves as the Director of DEI Partnerships and University-Community
Liaison. Jahmal joined the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion during the summer
of 2023. In this position he is tasked with developing a strategic approach to the
University's efforts to intentionally collaborate with BIPOC communities throughout
the area to address racial historical harms. He has been with SJSU since 2014 and
previously held positions as the Program Director of the Black Leadership and Opportunity
Center (BLOC), and as one of the Assistant Directors at Peer Connections, the campus
hub for tutoring and mentoring.
Felicia McKee-Fegans
Programs Coordinator
Felicia Mckee-Fegans is the SJSU UROP programs coordinator. Felicia oversees all programmatic
financial and administrative decisions. Her tasks include onboarding faculty and student
support, managing student hiring processes and federal work study and financial aid
allocation.
Felicia has served the SJSU community for the past 18 years and joined the Office
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in July 2020 as Executive Assistant to the Chief
Diversity Officer and Diversity Program Specialist. She earned her B.A. in Psychology
from the University of Southern California and her M.A in Counselor Education from
San Jose State University. In addition to administrative support, she assists in designing
and presenting training for campus constituents and has worked with leadership from
various employee affinity groups to design a support program for these organizations
through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Prior to joining the ODEI team,
Felicia worked in University Advancement, during which time served on several university
task forces and committees, advised student organizations and was a lecturer in Sci
2, a freshman course aimed at developing study skills, time management, and personal
growth needed to transition from high school to university. She currently serves as
chair of the SJSU Black Faculty and Staff Association and sits on the planning board
for the Black Graduation Celebration and the African American College Readiness Summit.
Wendy Siguenza
Graduate Student Assistant
Wendy Siguenza (She/Her/Ella) is a currently a Graduate Student for the Master’s of
Social Work program at SJSU. She received her Bachelor’s of Art in Sociology with
a minor in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2019. Before pursuing
a MSW, Wendy was a Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisor at SJSU for culturally-based
organizations (NPCH & USFC) where she advised and created programming events to increase
recruitment efforts and strengthen student leadership. Wendy hasn’t always worked
in higher education though, prior to moving into her role at SJSU she worked as a
college academic advisor for middle & high school students through college prep programs
like GEAR UP & EAOP in Watsonville, Ca. Wendy is now pursing a master’s program in
hopes of being a school social worker for K-12 schools or in higher education. Wendy
is now the Graduate Student Assistant with UROP and supports website and social media
development in hopes to recruit more undergraduate students into the program.
Sara Nayeem
Peer Mentor
Research Interests: Experimental Evolution, Gene Editing, Genomics.
Year I joined UROP: 2022-2023
Research projects: Worked with Dr. Marie Haverfield on the Nurse Presence Duty during
UROP.
Currently working with Dr. Sonia Singhal in the phAGE lab where I look at experimental
evolution of viruses under higher temperatures. Also worked at the Pfizer Diagnostics
team during summer 2024.
Research Awards: NSF Rising Scientist Award, Research and Innovation Student Research,
Scholarship, and Creative Activities Fellowship
Hobbies: Hiking and reading
Currently: A student assistant for the 2024-2025 UROP cohort.
Role: Help students attain research roles around campus.
Yama Sekandar
Peer Mentor
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Yama Sekandar is an undergraduate student pursuing
a Bachelor of Science in Economics, as well as a minor in Political Science. As a
first generation student, he understands the needs and struggles of students from
a diverse set of backgrounds and seeks to connect them with life-changing opportunities.
As an alumni who participated in UROP during the 2022-2023 cohort himself, he understands
the impact undergraduate research can have on the careers and learning trajectories
of students. He is passionate about continuing the development of the program in accordance
with the needs of students and fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration,
innovation, and learning.
Yama has been recognized by the Stennis Center for Public Service for his outstanding
contributions to advancing racial and economic equity through his work at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, where he played a key role in drafting the USDA's policy
on providing language access to those with limited English proficiency. He has participated
in forums advocating for policies supporting the American safety net and reforming
secondary and higher education at the American Enterprise Institute. In the Summer
of 2024, he served as a research assistant in the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis
at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission where he supported the efforts to identify
and prevent threats to U.S. equity and bond exchanges. He hopes to continue his career
along this trajectory, using the power of data to improve people's lives and help
organizations make smart decisions.
Jahmal Williams
Program Founder
Jahmal Williams is the founder of SJSU UROP. Williams brought the idea of the program
to campus and spearheaded its creation and early infrastructure in fall 2019. He supports
UROP's strategic vision and is an active thought partner in programmatic decisions.
On campus, Williams currently serves as the Director of DEI Partnerships and University-Community
Liaison. Jahmal joined the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion during the summer
of 2023. In this position he is tasked with developing a strategic approach to the
University's efforts to intentionally collaborate with BIPOC communities throughout
the area to address racial historical harms. He has been with SJSU since 2014 and
previously held positions as the Program Director of the Black Leadership and Opportunity
Center (BLOC), and as one of the Assistant Directors at Peer Connections, the campus
hub for tutoring and mentoring.
Felicia McKee-Fegans
Programs Coordinator
Felicia Mckee-Fegans is the SJSU UROP programs coordinator. Felicia oversees all programmatic
financial and administrative decisions. Her tasks include onboarding faculty and student
support, managing student hiring processes and federal work study and financial aid
allocation.
Felicia has served the SJSU community for the past 18 years and joined the Office
of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in July 2020 as Executive Assistant to the Chief
Diversity Officer and Diversity Program Specialist. She earned her B.A. in Psychology
from the University of Southern California and her M.A in Counselor Education from
San Jose State University. In addition to administrative support, she assists in designing
and presenting training for campus constituents and has worked with leadership from
various employee affinity groups to design a support program for these organizations
through the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Prior to joining the ODEI team,
Felicia worked in University Advancement, during which time served on several university
task forces and committees, advised student organizations and was a lecturer in Sci
2, a freshman course aimed at developing study skills, time management, and personal
growth needed to transition from high school to university. She currently serves as
chair of the SJSU Black Faculty and Staff Association and sits on the planning board
for the Black Graduation Celebration and the African American College Readiness Summit.
Wendy Siguenza
Graduate Student Assistant
Wendy Siguenza (She/Her/Ella) is a currently a Graduate Student for the Master’s of
Social Work program at SJSU. She received her Bachelor’s of Art in Sociology with
a minor in History from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2019. Before pursuing
a MSW, Wendy was a Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisor at SJSU for culturally-based
organizations (NPCH & USFC) where she advised and created programming events to increase
recruitment efforts and strengthen student leadership. Wendy hasn’t always worked
in higher education though, prior to moving into her role at SJSU she worked as a
college academic advisor for middle & high school students through college prep programs
like GEAR UP & EAOP in Watsonville, Ca. Wendy is now pursing a master’s program in
hopes of being a school social worker for K-12 schools or in higher education. Wendy
is now the Graduate Student Assistant with UROP and supports website and social media
development in hopes to recruit more undergraduate students into the program.
Sara Nayeem
Peer Mentor
Research Interests: Experimental Evolution, Gene Editing, Genomics.
Year I joined UROP: 2022-2023
Research projects: Worked with Dr. Marie Haverfield on the Nurse Presence Duty during
UROP.
Currently working with Dr. Sonia Singhal in the phAGE lab where I look at experimental
evolution of viruses under higher temperatures. Also worked at the Pfizer Diagnostics
team during summer 2024.
Research Awards: NSF Rising Scientist Award, Research and Innovation Student Research,
Scholarship, and Creative Activities Fellowship
Hobbies: Hiking and reading
Currently: A student assistant for the 2024-2025 UROP cohort.
Role: Help students attain research roles around campus.
Yama Sekandar
Peer Mentor
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Yama Sekandar is an undergraduate student pursuing
a Bachelor of Science in Economics, as well as a minor in Political Science. As a
first generation student, he understands the needs and struggles of students from
a diverse set of backgrounds and seeks to connect them with life-changing opportunities.
As an alumni who participated in UROP during the 2022-2023 cohort himself, he understands
the impact undergraduate research can have on the careers and learning trajectories
of students. He is passionate about continuing the development of the program in accordance
with the needs of students and fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration,
innovation, and learning.
Yama has been recognized by the Stennis Center for Public Service for his outstanding
contributions to advancing racial and economic equity through his work at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, where he played a key role in drafting the USDA's policy
on providing language access to those with limited English proficiency. He has participated
in forums advocating for policies supporting the American safety net and reforming
secondary and higher education at the American Enterprise Institute. In the Summer
of 2024, he served as a research assistant in the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis
at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission where he supported the efforts to identify
and prevent threats to U.S. equity and bond exchanges. He hopes to continue his career
along this trajectory, using the power of data to improve people's lives and help
organizations make smart decisions.
