What’s next for the Class of 2026: Paris Francis

“What’s next for the Class of 2026” is a series that features Lafayette grads—where they’re headed, and the mentors, resources, and experiences that inspired their future path. Stay tuned for more stories throughout April and May.

(Photo | JaQuan Alston)

By Maddie Pedone ’26 

Major:

Integrative engineering with a robotics focus 

Destination/future plans:

Working as a Software Systems Application Engineer I at Schneider Electric, assigned to projects in New York City 

Involvement on campus: 

Paris Francis ’26 has been involved across many parts of campus during her time at Lafayette. She has been president of National Society of Black Engineers (2024-26), a historian for the Association of Black Collegians (2023-26) and a Digital Scholarship Services (DSS) assistant (2023-25). She worked as a resident adviser (2025-26) and an assistant at the circulation desk of Skillman and Kirby libraries (2024-26). 

Francis is also a Clare Boothe Luce research scholar for the Lafayette College DRIVE Lab, as well as a Portlock resident and POSSE Scholar. She has served in NIA’s Big Sis Little Sis mentorship program working with two mentees.  

Over the past year, Francis has been working as an intern at Schneider Electric. 

The experiences that mattered most:

Looking back on her time at Lafayette, Francis explains her research has been an influential experience for shaping her interest in engineering.  

“My freshman year, I came in as a mechanical engineer and shortly realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do, but I still loved engineering very much,” Francis says. “But then I found my research and found out about the integrative engineering program here. That (program) led me to robotics, which is what ultimately led me to my job, so I’m very grateful.” 

Her lab research has been looking at ways to improve motorcycle safety through developing simulations. 

“Our lab is dedicated to improving motorcycle safety by creating self-driving motorcycles and using experimental data to verify our simulations in order to prove that simulations are a valid means for motorcycle safety system testing.”  

How Lafayette shaped your future:

Francis reflected that the different groups she participated with on campus allowed her to grow as an individual. 

“I think there are so many spaces on campus that allow me to be myself and connect with other people who not only look like me but also have the same interests as me,” Francis says. “I wouldn’t have found my passions without these opportunities.” 

Francis notes her mentors from the National Society of Black Engineers have been very helpful and connected her to her post-grad job at Schneider Electric. 

Why Lafayette?

The excitement and openness everyone has to learn at Lafayette is something Francis greatly admires. 

“The small community and how willing everybody is to learn is, I think, something that makes Lafayette unique,” Francis says. “People aren’t afraid to challenge each other, which allows people to get a different perspective.”

The people who inspired you along the way:

Along her college career, Francis explained Gateway Career Center’s resources and programming helped her significantly.

“I think Gateway Career Center has been very helpful with connecting different clubs with various resources like improving your LinkedIn, your resume, your networking skills,” Francis says. “I think the sessions they have [created] have been really important for my and other students’ success.” 

She also credits the mentorship she has received from Lafayette professors as being very helpful, including from her research professor, Alexander Brown, associate professor of mechanical engineering. 

“I feel like a lot of my success has been thanks to his mentorship,” Francis says, adding that the research she worked on with Brown helped her technical skills develop and helped her grow as an individual in the engineering world.

Another mentor who has helped Francis is her POSSE mentor, Rachel Goshgarian, associate professor of history. 

“[She] has been so incredible helping me navigate life here at Lafayette and life outside of Lafayette,” Francis says. “If I did not have her guidance throughout these four years, I do not know where I would be. She has been so incredibly helpful to me and my POSSE, so I thank her endlessly.” 

Advice for future Leopards:

Francis’ advice to new students is to not be afraid to take a risk and try something new. 

“Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable; try any and everything,” Francis says. “There are so many opportunities for you to grow, you just need to take them in order to get to where you want to be.”