Center for Applied Technology Current Members

Darian Choi is a junior majoring in data analytics and a member of the Westmont baseball team. He’s part of the AI development team at CATLab, where he’s passionate about building smart tools that make life easier for others, especially the Westmont community. He loves collaborating with others, tackling challenges as a team, and creating solutions that have a real impact. Outside of work he loves to hang out with friends, go to the beach and watch movies!

Malia de Jesus is a rising junior majoring in computer science. She's part of the AI software development team at CATLab, where she enjoys building tools that solve real problems and thinking through how tech can be both helpful and human. She’s especially drawn to creative problem-solving, clean design, and finding better ways to support students through code. In her free time, she’s probably playing volleyball, singing, or playing guitar.

Will Eaton is a rising sophomore pursuing a B.S. in computer science. He has experience with programming languages including Python and Java. Outside of academics, Will enjoys mountain biking, hunting, spending time with friends, and relaxing at the beach.

Brycyn Gossett, a 2024 graduate with a degree in computer science, brings a strong foundation in web development, a drive to lead, and a deep curiosity for learning to CATLab. After spending a year maintaining and improving Westmont’s mobile app, he now looks forward to leading a team of developers to continue enhancing the app’s impact on the Westmont community. Outside of work, Brycyn enjoys walking his dog, playing basketball, spending time with friends, and exploring the outdoors.

Carly is a rising junior double majoring in data analytics and mathematics with a minor in computer science. As an AI development intern at CATLab, she's currently focused on building a chatbot for the college, helping make campus resources more accessible and easier to navigate. She enjoys using data and design to solve meaningful problems, especially when collaboration is involved. Outside of work, she likes spending time with friends, often at a favorite coffee shop around town.

Tim Klug is a rising sophomore majoring in data analytics. His skills include problem solving, programming, and collaboration, and he has experience coding in Python and Java. In his free time, Tim enjoys playing, watching, and coaching baseball; listening to music; and collecting vinyl records. 

Ryan Magnuson is a rising junior double majoring in computer science and philosophy. He is driven by solving problems and making things happen, whether it's by working closely with a team or flying solo. He's always curious about building better solutions, especially from the ground up. He is also well-versed in machine learning, server operations, and digging through Stack Overflow.

Ella McMillan is a rising junior majoring in computer science with a minor in religious studies. She brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to her work and finds satisfaction in creating tools that are both practical and meaningful. With what free time she has, Ella is probably traveling, spending time with friends, and beating them in card games.

David Oyebade, CATLab Product Manager, is a rising senior and is majoring in data analytics. An avid storyteller, he enjoys leveraging data to provide business insights. He is on the Westmont track and field team and enjoys playing soccer and hiking in his free time.

David Ponce De Leon is a resourceful and dedicated rising senior with a love for learning and a drive to create community. With development skills built in the classroom and sharpened in CATLab, he brings a curious and authentic approach to problem solving and building better solutions. Outside of the computer, David is most likely on the beach playing volleyball.

As a 2025 graduate with a degree in computer science, Elijah specializes in front end development with React being his weapon of choice on the battlefield of software. He values honest self-assessment, authentic expression, and the quiet power of daily refinement—ideas that shape both his code and his character. Outside of software, Elijah is best known for his passion for photography and videography, and he proudly holds the lifelong honor of 2008 Sinnoh League Champion.

Xander Hagen graduated in 2023 after majoring in Physics. Xander has leveraged his strong mathematical and problem-solving mindset in the fields of manufacturing and business analytics. He excels in improving logistics and systems efficiency, and aims to bring this to an area of research. In his free time, he pursues creative work, video game development, long walks, bike rides, and gardening.

Nice Teta Hirwa is a rising junior majoring in data analytics and minoring in applied mathematics. With a strong background in machine learning and a deep interest in data science, she enjoys working with data to develop predictive solutions that are both helpful and impactful for society. This summer, she is working as a business analyst at CATLab, where she transforms data into clear and impactful visualizations to support the Sales Development Representative (SDR) team while also contributing to outreach efforts by engaging with prospective students. In her free time, she enjoys talking to people, discovering new things, and listening to podcasts. 

Jonathan Iyob, CATLab business analyst, is a rising junior majoring in data analytics. He excels at turning complex datasets into clear, strategic insights that drive smarter decisions. A passionate videographer, Jonathan brings a creative eye to every project, crafting engaging stories through film. He loves playing basketball, hanging out with loved ones, and being outdoors.

Heritier Kayabo is a rising sophomore majoring in economics and business with a sociology minor. He brings a strong attention to detail, a can-do attitude, and a collaborative spirit to his work. In his role at the Center for Applied Technology, he designs and builds forms—strategically applying color palettes, photography, and concise content writing to elevate Westmont’s brand. In his free time, Heritier enjoys hiking, working on data-tracking DIY projects, and studying education systems and socio-economic empowerment within community settings.

A rising senior and mathematics major, Andreas brings an interdisciplinary background and a detail-oriented mindset to his work improving Westmont’s marketing strategies for prospective students. He is passionate about using data to make informed decisions on complex issues. Andreas balances his work life with hobbies such as reading, making music, and exploring the urban landscape by bicycle.

Elise Reynolds, business analyst on the CATLab team, is driven by a desire to build meaningful, human-centered tools with her strategic mindset and competitive nature. This summer, working as a Sales Development Representative (SDR), she's applying her software development background in a role that blends communication, empathy, and outreach. With a growing curiosity about finance and business strategy, Elise enjoys finding creative, data-driven ways to solve real world problems. Outside of work, she enjoys playing sports, going to live music events, and has recently been learning the drums. 

A math major with a love for abstract problem-solving, creative thinking, and continuous learning, Amelia is building Agentforce agents and working toward her Salesforce Administrator certification. Her background in math and computer science gives her a strong foundation for tackling technical challenges with logic and creativity. She's especially interested in applying these skills in the Salesforce ecosystem after graduation.

Kate is a rising junior, where she is actively pursuing a major in sociology (with a writing minor tacked on for fun!). Her love of weaving literary tapestries translates well to her current work in digital form building, with the desire to clearly communicate across technology driving her designs. To alleviate boredom, Kate typically creates video games, becomes hooked on finishing whatever jigsaw puzzle she was confident would be an easy solve, and finds excuses to buy more books than she can feasibly hope to read. 

Emma is a rising senior majoring in psychology on the pre-nursing track, interested in the emergency medicine field. She joined CATLab in the summer of 2024 and is returning for her second summer on the Creative Team. With an extensive background in creative writing and growing skills in media, she brings a thoughtful and expressive voice to the team. In her free time, she enjoys writing, reading, movie nights, relaxing with friends, and petting every dog possible (also dogsitting, by the way!).

Julia Jachetta is a multidisciplinary designer and illustrator with a B.A. in graphic design and a background in fine arts.  As Creative Director at CATLab, she will lead the development of marketing materials and shape the program’s visual identity for the summer. She brings a strategic, coordinated approach to publication design, illustration, and brand storytelling. Outside of work, she finds creative energy away from the computer in figure drawing, screen printing, and playing bass.

Lucca is a rising senior majoring in sociology, English, and Hispanic studies. He is passionate about art, activism, and good food. Last year, his play was selected by the Kennedy Center for their 2024 American College Theatre Festival. These days, Lucca can usually be found in his hammock or near his yellow lab, Pepper.

Christine Venzor graduated in 2024 with a double major in liberal studies and music. She is skilled in photography, creative work, and detailed organization. In her free time, she enjoys music, rock climbing, and watching the sunset.

A Westmont alumnus (‘08) and the Director of CRM and Data Services, Zak Landrum is the Center for Applied Technology's founding director. His primary role at Westmont is to empower the Westmont Salesforce team to create digital business solutions for Westmont. Through the CATLab, he has made a practice of inviting students into the work of digital transformation, and he derives great joy from partnering with students to leave Westmont better than the year before. When not at work, he spends time with his family on the beach, reads sci-fi novels from the public library, and cooks with whatever ingredients he can find in the pantry.

Charles Ryu is a passionate programmer from North Korea. Charles escaped North Korea twice in all in his teen years, resettled in America when he was seventeen, and now works at Westmont College as a Mobile, Web-application, and CMS Developer. Charles has a big heart for refugees and wants to create a coding boot camp for refugees alongside CATLab.

As a Salesforce Administrator for the Westmont Office of Admissions, Adae Rehmke strives to provide a great experience for fellow users. Collaborating with the CATLab team to create a completely customized interface for admissions is a fun and edifying experience for her. She relishes in seeing the team’s outstanding innovation and hard work come to fruition. Outside of work, Adae enjoys cultivating an edible permaculture landscape around her home, but she especially loves spending time will her family on outdoor adventures or playing games.

Mike, an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Westmont, works to support and empower all CATLab staff and students be able to do their best work while having fun. He brings his software engineering and technical management skills to Westmont from Silicon Valley. Mike loves technology, aviation, and music. He's part of a simulated US Navy Air Wing that meet to learn and virtual fly in high-fidelity flight simulators. He also enjoys singing, playing drums, and producing and publishing his own music and video content.

Caylie Cox graduated from Westmont in 2021 with a degree in English. She’s now studying for her Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, but she still works part-time as Westmont’s I.T. Web and Marketing Specialist. Caylie manages the myWestmont portal, CATLab website, and any I.T. communication needs. She loves correct grammar, her fluffy cats, and the social/personal side of technology. She collaborates with CATLab staff and students to ensure Westmont’s technological solutions are welcoming, engaging, and beautiful.

Neil Di Maggio is Director of Research and Prospect Management in the Office of College Advancement at Westmont. Although he also loves dogs, he is happy to be working at CATLab for his second summer. Together with the Data Analyst team, he is working to make sure Salesforce data is actionable and accurate according to the college’s business processes.

Owen Marcus graduated in 2021 with a degree in history. Post graduation, he jumped right into the role of being an admissions counselor at Westmont. He then acquired his master's degree in student affairs, enabling him to become the Resident Director for both the GLC and Emerson residence halls. Now he serves the CRM team managing Marketing Cloud emails on behalf of the college and onboards event forms using Webconnex products. Owen is a mat surfer and movie enthusiast. He enjoys spending time with his family at the beach and searching for the next greatest pizza joint in town. Through Owen’s four years working at Westmont, he has deeply enjoyed building lasting relationships and leaving a lasting impact.