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USF Engineering Program Marks Major Milestone
Philanthropic support from Russ Pitto ’96 and a strong STEM curriculum accelerate USF engineering’s growth.
In just six years, the University of San Francisco’s engineering program has grown from a new academic initiative into an accredited department preparing future engineers for careers in the Bay Area and beyond.
That growth was made possible through the vision and generosity of supporters like trustee emeritus Russ Pitto ’66, whose investment helped provide the foundation for the program’s continued expansion.
This year, USF’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering program received accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, marking a significant milestone for the department, which welcomed its first students in 2020.
Accreditation is achieved as the department celebrates the graduation of its second class of engineers. Today, 84 students are enrolled in the department, and approximately 70 percent identify as students from historically underrepresented groups in STEM, reflecting USF’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity in engineering.
A Vision for Engineering at USF
When Pitto began supporting engineering at USF, he saw an opportunity to create something that the university needed: an engineering program that reflects San Francisco’s prime position.
“The Bay Area is a high-tech environment,” Pitto said. “It’s hard to avoid the role of tech where we live. San Francisco is a big part of the engine of Silicon Valley, and we should be taking advantage of that.”
Pitto recently completed his $1 million pledge with a gift of appreciated stock to the Pitto Engineering Support Fund, helping expand the Innovation Hive, enhance engineering facilities and laboratories, and support engineering programs at USF.
“I thought an engineering program was a missing piece at USF,” he said. “The university was interested in building the program into something that would become attractive to students. It was a hole that needed to be filled.”
A Distinctive Engineering Education
For Beatrice Johnson-Drysdale ’24, a member of the program’s first graduating cohort, the value of a USF engineering education extends well beyond technical training.
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“The value of my USF engineering degree lies in its balance,” Johnson-Drysdale said. “The curriculum’s emphasis on sustainability and its dedication to fostering strong written and oral communication skills gave me a distinct competitive advantage over graduates from other programs.”
As part of the inaugural cohort, Johnson-Drysdale also helped shape the culture of the department by founding the USF chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). The department’s backing of the NSBE conference helped Johnson-Drysdale to expand her network and land new opportunities.
“The department’s financial support for my NSBE conference attendance was life-changing,” Johnson-Drysdale said. “I secured the internship that launched my career at one of those very conferences.”
As USF Engineering enters its seventh year, investments from supporters like Pitto continue to expand opportunities for students and advance the program’s growth and impact.
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