Meet Cory Tamburrino ‘26 (CS)
Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering 2026 Valedictorian
When Cory Tamburrino first received the news that he had been named the Class of 2026 Valedictorian for the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, his reaction was one of characteristic humility. "I was shocked," he admits, "and immediately nervous to give a speech at graduation."
For a man who has operated nuclear reactor equipment in the U.S. Navy and repaired scientific lab instrumentation in the biotech industry, a podium might seem like small stakes, but it represents the culmination of a remarkable journey from the suburbs of Chicago to the pinnacle of academic success at the University of San Diego (USD).
Cory’s path to a 4.0 GPA in computer science (CS) was anything but traditional. As a veteran, he spent years in high-pressure environments, honing a meticulous and detail-oriented mindset. It was during his time as a field service engineer in 2020 that the spark for his current career was ignited: “Working with bioinformaticians opened my eyes to the field of computer science and applications of AI.”
This realization prompted a bold return to academia to study computer science, with a heavy focus on the mathematical foundations of Artificial Intelligence and cognitive science.
“My goal in CS has always been to work with AI specifically. I knew that there was a good bit of math involved with learning how AI fundamentally works and wanted to ensure I had a strong foundation for me to understand the theory behind AI models.”
Tamburrino is also fascinated with the relationship between AI models, like artificial neural networks and human brains: “Minoring in cognitive science allowed me to study this relationship at a deeper level.”
While maintaining a demanding academic schedule, Cory balanced his role as a data analytics intern for USD Baseball with active membership in the Student Veteran Organization. He further sharpened his technical and collaborative skills through the BURST program, engaging in undergraduate research during the summer of 2025 under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Md Nafee Al Islam, PhD.
Reflecting on this mentorship, Tamburrino notes, “I took two classes and performed research with Dr. Nafee Al Islam. He has been an excellent mentor who has been extremely generous with his time, and offered strong encouragement for me to continue to pursue a graduate degree.”
Al Islam’s praise for Tamburrino’s performance is equally significant, highlighting him as “one of the best students in my class who was always attentive” and frequently “scored hundred percent in many of the tests.”
This academic excellence transitioned seamlessly into the BURST research program, where Tamburrino worked on a collaborative project with St. Louis University. “I had really positive feedback from the professor at St. Louis University about the output of Cory’s work,” confirms Al Islam. “Cory was a very good researcher with excellent attention to detail and possessed the unique ability to understand very complex research requirements and solve complicated problems within a tight deadline.”
Tamburrino’s time at USD has been more than just earning a degree; it has been a bridge to his next great challenge. He recently announced that he has accepted an offer to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of California, San Diego, specializing further in his interest in AI and machine learning.
As he prepares to walk across the Jenny Craig Pavilion stage with a perfect GPA at USD’s Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering commencement ceremony on May 23, 2026, Cory Tamburrino remains grateful for the community that supported him: “I am super grateful that my journey brought me here to USD — it was perfect for me.”