Kenny Angelikas isn’t your typical CS senior. A four-year researcher in Temple’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Lab, former Owl Byte co-host, and now a full-time incoming Software Engineer at Microsoft, Kenny joined the show to share an unfiltered look at his journey.
From ACM Meeting to Published Researcher: Kenny’s research career started with a cold email in November of his freshman year, after a classmate nudged him toward Temple’s HCI Lab (led by Professor Stephen McNeil). He was thrown onto a project almost immediately — and when the original lead vanished, Kenny stepped up. That project became his most-cited published paper.
Mentorship the Unconventional Way: Kenny didn’t have a formal mentor. Instead, he learned by being in the room — absorbing the work ethic of senior lab members like Andrew, Seth, and Joanne. It’s a model he now pays forward, having grown into a PM-style role focused on building lab culture and opening doors for the next wave of undergrads.
What Actually Drives HimEarly on, fear of failure was the fuel. Over time, that shifted toward faith and a genuine desire to serve the people around him — a value rooted in his upbringing. He measures himself not against peers, but against whether he’s doing enough for others.
The Summer That Changed Everything: Kenny’s most transformative experience wasn’t an internship or a paper — it was a solo summer on campus during an NSF REU program after freshman year. Months of solitude, cooking for himself, playing soccer, and deep reflection. He calls it the period that most shaped who he is today.
The Microsoft Announcement (and What Comes After)In a surprise reveal on the episode, Kenny announced he’s accepted a full-time offer with Microsoft’s Xbox and cloud gaming division — the technology that lets you stream games to any device. But he is still open to getting a PhD in AI-focused CS education in the future.
His Advice for Incoming Students: Keep moving. Do hard things. The direction matters less than the momentum — stagnation is the real trap. His starting points: join ACM, explore the HCI Lab, and push yourself somewhere uncomfortable.
