ACES provides support and access to a STEM education through pre-college programs and beyond
Nathan Yeboah ‘28 arrived at Stevens with a desire to improve people's lives through engineering. Just two years later, he's already doing exactly that — conducting biomedical research, leading student organizations and preparing for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
His story reflects the mission of ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science): finding talented students and removing the barriers that stand between them and their full potential.
ACES didn't simply help Yeboah enroll at Stevens. It connected him to research, mentors, leadership opportunities and experiences that accelerated and defined his passion.
Through the program, Yeboah connected with the MOCORE Lab, where he joined a research team studying augmented sensory feedback for motor rehabilitation. The work was concrete and consequential: using virtual reality systems to guide patients through upper-limb rehabilitation tasks and analyzing data on task completion, path error and muscle signals to understand how different types of feedback improve recovery. As an undergraduate, he was contributing to research with direct implications for patients recovering from injuries and neurological conditions.
"What made this experience especially meaningful was realizing that the work we were doing had the potential to impact real patients,” said Yeboah. "It showed me how engineering research can directly contribute to improving quality of life."
The skills Yeboah built in the lab helped him secure an internship with Bristol Myers Squibb — a transition from academic research to industry that he describes as "incredibly exciting." He now also serves as treasurer of the Black Student Union and is active in the National Society of Black Engineers, the Latin American Association and the STEP advisory board.
That is the promise of ACES: not simply opening the door to a STEM education, but also providing the tools to succeed once they walk through it.
Talent Is Everywhere. Opportunity Isn't.
As the ACES program approaches its 10th anniversary, the program continues to build on the vision established by President Nariman Farvardin in 2017 — talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn't.
The program partners with 18 high schools across New Jersey and New York — plus one community college partner — to identify students with exceptional promise in STEM from under-resourced communities early, connect them with Stevens' pre-college programs and provide the academic, financial and personal support they need to not just enroll in college, but to thrive throughout their journey.
Witler Defendre '28, a mechanical engineering major, recalls a moment that illustrates this impact precisely. During an engineering project, his team was building a boat and needed to meet a demanding three-lap requirement. Because ACES covered his housing costs, Defendre could stay on campus far later than teammates who were commuting. That extra time was the difference. "Because ACES funded my housing," he said, "I was able to stay on-site much later than my group members. This extra time allowed us to successfully fulfill the three-lap requirement — an achievement that many other groups struggled to meet."
For Samir Perez '28, an information systems major who transferred to Stevens, ACES meant something more fundamental: the ability to be a student. "This program has provided the opportunity to continue higher education without the heavy financial burden," said Perez. "This has allowed me to focus on education fully instead of juggling two part-time jobs and school as I did in the past."
That clarity — the ability to actually show up — ripples outward. Perez has since joined AKPsi, competed in a sales pitch competition, and secured a summer fellowship with Medicare Advisors.
Marlene Moranchel '28 worked as an ACES research assistant in the Department of Computer Science, discovered a passion for data analytics she's now building a career around and recently served as a data analyst for a local business through Stevens' consulting program.
Two Pathways to Success
ACES begins well before students arrive at Stevens. Through the pre-college program, high school students receive academic enrichment, mentoring and guidance through the college admissions process.
Those who enroll at Stevens — and qualifying first-year and transfer students — can continue into the ACES College Scholars Program through the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP), where they receive ongoing academic, financial, professional and social support.
The two pathways create a continuum of support from high school through college graduation.
The Numbers Behind the Stories
The numbers behind these individual stories are significant. Pell-eligible enrollment at Stevens has grown 54% since ACES launched. The program has expanded from 9 to 18 partner high schools and now includes one community college partner. Participation in the residential summer program has increased by 162%. On average, ACES undergraduates maintain a 3.4 GPA or above.
The program is funded through generous support from Stevens’ alumni, friends and corporate sponsors, including ADP, Johnson & Johnson and PSEG Foundation.
"ACES is not only the right thing to do for society," President Farvardin has said. "It is the smart thing to do for the economy."
For Nathan Yeboah, a student who arrived at Stevens eager to improve lives through engineering, his purpose is becoming a reality through access to research, mentorship and opportunity.
