Riley Perez

Riley Perez says the first time she visited ASU, she felt like she had found her home. 

“I remember walking through campus on that tour and feeling like this was the place that I could not only get my degree but thrive,” the Grand Challenges Scholar says.

She chose to major in biomedical engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU after her best friend was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, requiring a life-changing surgery to survive.

“I remember being told after her procedure that she would never be able to play volleyball ever again, wouldn’t be able to eat her favorite meal and that her life had changed in ways she could not stop,” Perez says. “I decided then and there that I would do whatever it took to ensure that she could have her life back.” 

During her time at ASU, Perez created online resources for incoming first-year students, completed two internships, published a scientific paper and created a novel product for patients unable to use straws.

Perez knew she was on the right path after presenting her first mini-capstone project. Though she was nervous beforehand, the flood of positive feedback from her peers instilled confidence in her and her abilities. 

“I was so delighted to present what we had worked on, and the feeling of just pure joy is one that I still feel when I work,” she says. “I have found my confidence. I went from a nervous and unsure young woman to a strong and capable woman who faces issues head-on.”

She extends her gratitude to Michael Sobrado, a lab manager in the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, part of the Fulton Schools, as a source of inspiration and acceptance. 

While her post-graduation plans aren’t solidified, Perez is eager to start her next chapter.

“I would love to go into design engineering for a company that focuses on autoimmune conditions,” she says. “I would be delighted to work on treatments or diagnostic tools for autoimmune diseases and would love to make a clear diagnostic test for lupus.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.