Return to the stories you loved in 2025
A globe-trotting couple whose romance began in a Carnegie Mellon cafeteria. A digital security expert who loves building in-real-life networks. A Tartan engineer at the top of her game who hopes to help others reach the same heights.
There is no shortage of success stories among CMU’s alumni. But these Tartans are the people who grabbed our attention — and yours — over the past year. Read on for our most-read stories of 2025.
Looking ahead
“I've always had a great affinity for Carnegie Mellon. It gave me a lot of opportunities in life and it can give other people a lot of opportunities in life.”
— Cameron Brown, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Class of 1995
Cameron came to CMU to pursue a drama career and switched later to economics. But his overall experience at CMU has led him to a career as a software engineer — and a lifetime commitment to his alma mater.
Around the world in 40 years
“Every full-time job I've had, either directly or indirectly, has a thread back to relationships and contacts from Carnegie Mellon. All the way through, I still retain strong friendships, colleagues and professional relationships with CMU people.”
— Steve Miller, College of Engineering, Classes of 1980 and 1983
Steve Miller and Pat Meyer met at Carnegie Mellon and began a decades long relationship that’s taken them from Pittsburgh to Japan, from Singapore to Connecticut.
10 CMU alumni honored for impact and achievement
“This year is a double celebration — 125 years since CMU’s founding and 75 years of the Alumni Awards — so it’s the perfect time to honor where we’ve been and where we’re headed. What a milestone year to cheer on this incredible group of Alumni Award honorees! Their drive, creativity and generosity light the way for every Tartan.”
— Joanna D. Lovering, president of the CMU Alumni Association Board
For 75 years, the Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Association has taken time each fall to recognize a group of outstanding Tartans, and this year’s class of Alumni Award recipients had the special honor of receiving their award in a double-anniversary year.
Engineering the next success story
“I work in the metals industry, which is still male-dominated throughout much of the world. Early in my career, I regularly met with senior industry professionals in parts of the world where female engineers could not get jobs working in their field. I was introduced based on my CMU degree and experience. It made them decide to listen as I might have something important to say.”
— Catherine Houska, College of Engineering, Class of 1982
Catherine is an internationally recognized expert in architectural and structural metallurgy, a career path she began once she had her CMU degree. She knows the value of a CMU education, and she hopes to help upcoming engineering students find the same success she’s had over the years.
Network connections
“I think the biggest thing that CMU teaches you is the ability to learn as you need to, because a lot of the courses that I did, even machine learning and stuff like that, I had no prior background in. A lot of those courses have added value by showing me how I can learn on the job, and that's what I've been doing on this AI stuff as well, because I don't have a background for it necessarily.”
— Anish Menon, College of Engineering, Class of 2011
Anish is a security software engineer at Netflix, which dovetails nicely with his CMU master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. But while at CMU, he learned two other skills he says have been just as helpful: being adaptable and being adept at building a professional network.