Alireza Mohammadzadeh wins 2024 GPSG Leadership and Service Award
The University honored one of its bioengineering graduate students this spring for his service and leadership to Pitt, the surrounding community, and the world at large.
Alireza Mohammadzadeh, a bioengineering PhD candidate at the Swanson School of Engineering, won the 2024 Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) Leadership and Service Award. He was honored for his exceptional efforts in supporting the international student community and promoting a diverse and welcoming environment at the University of Pittsburgh and the Swanson School of Engineering.
Mohammadzadeh has been a driving force in the International Engineering Students’ Organization (IESO) at the Swanson School, serving as the Student Success and Belonging Chair, and in the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) as the International Student Programming Chair. Through these roles, he has significantly enhanced the experience of international students, helping them to thrive academically and socially.
As chair, Mohammadzadeh leads IESO Pals, a peer-mentoring program that connects incoming international students with senior peers, and provides crucial support throughout their first year. Mohammadzadeh organized a housing panel for mentees, and a winter wear shopping trip to an outlet factory, and contributed to various social events at the school level, which have been instrumental in building a sense of community and belonging among international students. While he’s honored to receive the award, he is most grateful for his colleagues and collaborators who have supported these initiatives with him.
“Receiving this award is a true honor,” Mohammadzadeh said. “My colleagues’ efforts at IESO and BMES, support from the Office of International Services and Graduate Global Ties, as well as the close collaboration with Engineering Graduate Student Organization (EGSO) were instrumental in our collective achievements. Special thanks to Dr. Kurt Beschorner, and my mentor, Dr. Steven Little, for their guidance and support.”
In addition to his roles in IESO and BMES, Mohammadzadeh has served as the graduate student representative on two university committees: the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentoring and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. His work on these committees further underscores his commitment to student advocacy, promoting student involvement and academic excellence. Mohammadzadeh was recognized at a reception in April and received a grant toward academic expenses. GPSG aims to make service by graduate and professional students more visible and valued on campus and to honor those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service.