From Student to Mentor: Deepu Talla, PhD, ’98 MS, Pays It Forward with Endowed Graduate Fellowship

Deepu Talla, PhD, ’98 MS, with wife Kanchan Patalay Talla ’00 MS

Deepu Talla, PhD, ’98 MS, first came to the United States to attend Villanova University, a life-changing experience that inspired him to establish a graduate fellowship to support future College of Engineering (COE) students.

After earning his undergraduate degree in India, Talla pursued his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Villanova, where he forged strong connections with classmates and faculty. He worked closely with S. S. Rao, PhD, who served as chair of the Electrical Engineering Department from 1983 until his passing in 2004. Talla received a full teaching and research assistantship with Dr. Rao’s help, enabling him to focus on his studies and conduct his research.

Grateful for the support that shaped his future success, Talla has made a gift to the College of Engineering to create the Dr. S. S. Rao Memorial Endowed Graduate Fellowship. Starting this fall, Talla’s generosity will fund the tuition and living expenses for graduate students in Electrical or Computer Engineering. Graduate fellowships are vital to attracting and retaining talented students who bolster research and elevate the College’s reputation, aligning with the COE’s 10-year Strategic Plan.

After earning his PhD in Computer Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, Talla spent over a decade at Texas Instruments in executive and technical roles. Today, he lives in Silicon Valley and serves as Vice President and General Manager of Robotics and Edge Computing at NVIDIA, leading AI technology deployment in autonomous machines and intelligent devices.

Talla remains connected to Villanova and the College of Engineering through his philanthropy and involvement in various programs and events. This includes Villanova in the Valley, an immersion program that exposes students to global innovation and entrepreneurship. Over six days, participants develop a deep understanding of the ecosystem of Silicon Valley through company visits, networking events, and educational tours.

Next month, he will also deliver the College’s 2024 Patrick J. Cunningham, Jr. and Susan Ward ’80 Endowed Lecture, titled “Humanity’s New Allies: The Future of Robotics and Physical AI.”