Joshua West

Joshua West

Biography

Joshua West is a rising sophomore studying Electrical Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Growing up in Rochester, New York, and then moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, he developed an early appreciation for problem-solving and technology, building his first computer at 13 and never looking back. Drawn to the intersection of AI, circuit design, and real-world impact, Joshua is focused on using intelligent systems to address challenges that matter to people.

At NC A&T, Joshua works as an undergraduate researcher in the Urban Climate Intelligence Lab, where he integrates mobile sensors, drone imagery, and satellite data to study urban microclimates using AI models. His work sits at the crossroads of engineering and community, a space he’s been operating in since age 13, when he co-founded Champions of Change. This nonprofit has served 7,000+ people experiencing homelessness, foster care, and poverty across five states. Beyond research, he serves as an IEEE President’s Intern and NSBE Programs Zone Intern, and was selected as a LEAP Year 1 Scholar from a competitive pool of 230+ applicants.

Joshua views engineering not just as a discipline, but as a driving force for service. He approaches every opportunity, whether in the lab, the classroom, or the community, with the same conviction: technology should help people, and the people building it should reflect the communities they serve.