Jacob Underwood

Jacob Underwood initially majored in computer science because he had always liked programming. But after a few semesters, he began to question whether a programming career was the right path for him.

Civil engineering offered something he found more tangible: the chance to work on physical systems that shape how people live and move through the world.

“I moved into civil engineering because I like how it can be beneficial for society,” he says. “I also liked that it involved the physical world, so it felt more tangible than computer science.”

Underwood studied civil engineering with a focus on sustainability in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. As a Grand Challenges Scholar, he was especially drawn to the idea that engineers should think beyond technical solutions and consider how their work affects people.

“I’m proud of my participation in the Grand Challenges Scholars Program because I think the program has a really positive goal,” he says. “It is all about breaking engineers out of their shells and getting them to explore how their work affects other people.”

A study abroad experience in Tokyo helped connect Underwood’s earlier interest in computer science to his new path in civil engineering. During the two-week class led by Yoshihiro Kobayashi, a teaching professor in the School of Computing and Artificial Intelligence, he used Unity, a game engine, to simulate pedestrian and vehicular traffic, giving him a chance to see how computing tools can be applied to real-world transportation systems.

While at ASU, Underwood also looked for ways to serve the community around him. He volunteered weekly at the Tempe Community Action Agency Food Pantry, an experience that helped him feel more connected to his neighbors. He also volunteered in a community garden through Campus Student Sustainability Initiatives, moderately improving his green thumb while there.

“It made me feel more connected to my neighbors, and I had such a good time meeting new people and hearing their stories,” he says.

He says he’s grateful for financial support from the New American University Scholarship, the President Barack Obama Scholars Program and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Scholarship, as well as his designations as a Gilman Scholar and Grand Challenges Scholar.

After graduation, Underwood will join the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, where he will contribute to conservation efforts in the Rocky Mountains before deciding on his next step. He also passed the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, keeping open the possibility of a traditional civil engineering career.

“My long-term career aspirations mostly focus on fulfilling the following requirements: the job is interesting, the job directly helps people, and I like the people I work with,” he says.

Favorites

Hobby: Learning to play the ukulele
TV show: Station Eleven
Activity: Biking along the canal path
Book: The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
Geeky possession: Walkman CD player

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Lisa Irish