Meet Kavin Anand, ’24

Kavin Anand is graduating this year with a bachelor’s in computer science, a coterminal master’s in computer science, and a minor in global studies with a specialization in South Asia.

Anand says his global studies minor has helped him to “step outside of the Stanford bubble” and develop global perspectives. “Learning about historical events in different contexts is critical not only to developing a more pragmatic understanding of the world, but to be a more informed, global citizen,” he shared. “Those are skills that will last a lifetime, and the mindset will be invaluable as we navigate difficult political landscapes.”

Read the Q&A below to learn more about Kavin’s experience at Stanford.

Why do you decide to major in computer science and minor in global studies?

I'm a coterminal student who graduated with a bachelor’s in computer science, focusing on systems, security and cryptography, and a master’s in computer science, specializing in Artificial Intelligence. I've always been interested in problem solving. Studying computer science at Stanford helped me translate abstract ideas into actionable outcomes in software. It gave me the necessary tools and support to break down difficult problems into manageable parts, identify how to represent them in code, and work towards an answer.

I wanted my bachelor’s and master’s degrees to complement each other, and I sought to take advantage of the breadth of courses at Stanford. I made sure there was little overlap in degree requirements, which helped me get a more comprehensive education and understanding of CS as I head into industry.

I've also been incredibly passionate about history; it was one of my favorite subjects in high school. Stanford offered me the opportunity to study South Asian history in a way that never would've been possible at home, giving me a deeper appreciation of the region and my heritage.

Tell us about one of your favorite experiences during your time at Stanford.

I truly enjoyed my study abroad experience in Florence, Italy. It was incredible to immerse myself in a completely different culture. There's a difference between just visiting countries for a week or two versus living there. Grappling with the language and customs, getting used to unspoken rules like "don't order cappuccinos past noon," and trying to build your own community gives you a more intimate understanding of yourself and pushes you towards becoming a global citizen.

As you reflect on your time at Stanford, what are you most proud of?

I'm most proud of the communities I've joined and the relationships I've been able to build. It's hard navigating college, especially when you're trying to figure out what you want from life. I'm grateful for the community I've received through my participation in Stanford Club Tennis and Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp). Tennis had always been a major portion of my life, and I'm fortunate to have continued staying in touch with the sport at Stanford, even serving as president during my senior year. SigEp also offered a great brotherhood (and fantastic food) that always had my back.

What are your plans after graduation?

I'm moving to New York City and working as a software engineer at Plaid. I interned with them the prior summer on the Transactions Enrichment team, where I was able to implement a machine learning project on predicting credit card transaction frequencies. Hopefully, with the AI master’s under my belt now, I can continue work in this field and train more robust models.