While some students spent their summer break at the beach, Herff College of Engineering senior Tarik Wilkins spent his time away from the classroom as an intern at AutoZone Store Support Headquarters in Downtown Memphis.

Francis Smith-Brown, course developer at the University of Memphis Center for Information Assurance (CFIA) and creator of Sugar Bubbles™, was named a Community Choice winner and Bronze recipient in the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards.

Every summer, the City of Memphis offers a unique opportunity to dozens of college students across the city.

The Urban Fellows Program provides students with a 10-week internship and offers students a chance to get directly involved in the city government’s work of improving the lives of citizens. Students from the Herff College of Engineering made up nine of the 23 participants who were placed in the city’s division of engineering.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Dr. Sungyong Jung has been named chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Herff College of Engineering at the University of Memphis. He will begin his appointment Aug. 3.

Incoming Herff College of Engineering senior Kenzie Slakans already has more industry experience than most engineering students do by the time they graduate, thanks to her ongoing internships with Barnhart Crane & Rigging, a company that assists with the moving and installation of heavy equipment of all sizes.

Cristian Fernandez graduated from high school in 2019 and went straight to work in the construction industry, but he always knew that he’d need to continue his education to earn the role he sought, a position in management.