KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 23, 2026

Mouhamadou Diop left his home in Dakar, Senegal, with a clear goal and an uncertain path. Years later, he is preparing to graduate from Kennesaw State University as a high-achieving engineering student whose work spans over research labs and competitive design teams.

“I’m really proud of myself,” Diop said. “I thought that I could do it, but I took it to another level.” 

Diop’s journey to Kennesaw State was anything but traditional. After graduating from high school in Senegal, he moved to the U.S. the following year. He then enrolled at Atlanta Technical College, where he earned an associate degree in bioscience technology. Later, he worked as a lab technician in blood banking before transferring to Kennesaw State to pursue mechanical engineering at the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SPCEET).

His decision to attend Kennesaw State was both practical and personal, allowing him to stay close to family members while enrolling in a program that aligned with his interests and long-term goals. Yet his interest in engineering started early.

“I grew up on an Air Force base,” Diop said. “My dad was a pilot in the Senegalese Air Force, so planes are just what I know and what I like.” 

At Kennesaw State, Diop has maintained a near-perfect GPA, earned several scholarships while at KSU, including being a Paul Radow Scholar, while balancing a demanding course load, research, and extracurricular involvement. His approach is rooted in discipline and structure.

“I just compartmentalize what I have to do,” he said. “Every day, I map out what needs to be accomplished and break it into time blocks. I focus only on that task, and that consistency has helped me stay on track academically.” 

He credits that structure with helping him stay consistent, even during semesters filled with multiple project-heavy courses that required sustained focus and time management.

That discipline helped him navigate significant challenges early in his time in the United States, including a serious illness that required surgery and time away from school, along with financial pressure while supporting himself.

“It was a tough time, but I managed to get through,” he said. “Between my health issues and supporting myself financially, it pushed me to stay disciplined and focused on my goals.”

Despite those obstacles, Diop has built an extensive research portfolio within SPCEET. He has worked on projects ranging from aircraft engine optimization – which he presented at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) student conference – to developing BURAC, a bimodal drone designed to glide on water and fly close to surfaces.

The BURAC project, which he is designing and building from scratch, reflects his ability to translate theory into practical innovation using tools such as computer-aided design, simulation, and 3D printing.

He also contributes as a research assistant in Kennesaw State’s mechatronics lab, helping develop a wheelchair equipped with a lower-limb exoskeleton for rehabilitation, expanding his experience into human-centered engineering applications.

“Research helps me tie the concepts that I learned into something real,” he said. “It shows me that what we study in class can actually be applied to solve real problems and create something meaningful.” 

Outside the lab, Diop is a member of Kennesaw State’s Aerial Robotics Competition Team, contributing to the design and control systems of an autonomous aircraft built for competition. The team’s work involves designing a plane capable of completing tasks such as autonomous flight and payload delivery.

“Mouhamadou represents the grit found in Kennesaw State engineering students, “ SPCEET Dean Lawrence Whitman said. “His ability to excel academically while working on research that has an impact speaks to his discipline, talent, and drive.”

Motivated by his parents’ resilience, Diop plans to pursue a career as an aerospace systems engineer, with long-term goals of advancing autonomous aircraft and becoming a professor.

“I want to be at the forefront of autonomous aircraft,” he said. “I’m interested in systems that can improve accessibility and safety, especially in situations like search and rescue.”

As he reflects on his time at Kennesaw State, Diop describes it as a defining period of growth, shaped by both challenges and opportunities that pushed him to develop academically and personally.

“It’s the best experience I have had in my life,” he said. “I’ve met great people, learned from great professors, and built skills that I know will help me in the future.”

– Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photo provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.