Featured Sustaining Donor: Chris McComb

We are excited to highlight Smittcamp alumni Chris McComb as our Featured Donor for Fall 2022. Chris graduated with a double major in both civil engineering and mechanical engineering in 2012 from the Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State. He went on to receive both his MS (2014) and PhD in mechanical engineering (2016) from Carnegie Mellon University.

In 2016, Chris became a sustaining donor to the Smittcamp Family Honors College to support scholarships for President’s Honors Scholars. When asked why he gives, he shared the following:

I give to Smittcamp for one reason: gratitude. Simply put, I would not be the person I am today without the support that I received from Smittcamp as a student. Over time I've also come to realize that Smittcamp has a ripple effect that is truly unique. Smittcamp scholars are leaders on campus, they are engaged in community service and outreach, and they go on to pursue impactful careers. So a gift to Smittcamp isn't just a gift to Smittcamp - it's a gift to Fresno State, to the Valley, and to the World.

Chris recently established the Human+AI Design Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University, which he also serves as the Director for. The Initiative is an international and interdisciplinary group of researchers focused on human-AI collaboration for design. As Chris explains, AI is bringing about new opportunities in engineering and design, but it is also changing how designers and engineers think and work. Understanding these changes, and creating new ways of collaborating with AI, will enable us to solve global challenges. Chris is also involved in DEI work and leads the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee in his department.

Recently, Chris received the Design Theory and Methodology Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. This award is given in recognition of sustained meritorious contributions to research, education, service, training of researchers or practitioners, overall leadership in advancing the field, or any combination of these in the field of Design Theory and Methodology.

Chris currently lives in Pittsburgh with his girlfriend Lauren, their cats Brahe, Cori, and Pauli, and their dog Rez.

If you are interested in becoming a sustaining donor, please contact Becky Brown at beckyb@csufresno.edu.