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Lucas Romero-Wyhnanskyj’s computer science career has already taken him across two continents, from the Western Cape of South Africa to the sterile classrooms of UF’s campus. No matter the location, his goal remains the same: to connect with those around him.
When the now 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore first arrived at UF in 2024, he didn’t know anything about computer science. He switched his major from finance at preview because, he said, most of his friends were computer science.
Joining clubs helped him discover his passion for coding. It was then he realized his newfound love of computer science could help the international community.
“With all my campus ambassador things, like fellowships and internships, I’ve been able to meet some super duper cool and like-minded people,” Romero-Wyhnanskyj said.
He studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa in Summer 2025 to participate in a computer science internship with The Housing Assembly. The social movement helps 20 communities in Western Cape fight for housing justice.
Romero-Wyhnanskyj made a website to digitize thousands of audits the organization collected, so housing companies could find statistics of the average wait times for housing in townships or districts.
The website was his largest feat, technology-wise, Romero-Wyhnanskyj said, and he felt a new type of fulfillment upon its completion. After he returned to Florida, he decided to focus his computer science efforts toward the Gainesville community.
Leonardo Cobaleda, a 22-year-old UF computer science senior and one of Romero-Wyhnanskyj’s mentors, said the young student goes above and beyond, both inside and outside of the classroom.
“He helps others regardless of how close he is to them,” Cobaleda said. “He’s happy to share, because it helps everyone.”
One of Romero-Wyhnanskyj’s best characteristics is his passion for his work and his ability to network, Cobaleda said, and he genuinely loves what he does.
Romero-Wyhnanskyj is the sponsorship lead for the UF software engineering club. In the role, he is in charge of hosting all of the professional development workshops for the club.
The club hosted a resume workshop Sept. 25 for students to improve their resumes and make them more professional. During this workshop, Romero-Wyhnanskyj said he was able to help students and talk to each of them to ensure their success.
“That [the workshop] was super fulfilling in a way completely different to my technical roles,” Romero-Wyhnanskyj said.
His freshman year was a time of exploration and growth; now, as a sophomore, Romero-Wyhnanskyj said he is looking to be involved in more leadership positions through clubs and organizations, including the Computing Student Union.
The CSU collaborates with the advisors who set up the career fairs for the Computer and Information Science and Engineering Department, and its mission is to make UF a better school for computer science.
At the end of the day, Romero-Wyhnanskyj said, that is a mission he wants to contribute to.
“Definitely right now my goals are to help people … as much as possible, because that's where I get the most fulfilling feeling,” Romero-Wyhnanskyj said.
Contact Madeline Herring at mherring@alligator.org. Follow her on X @m_herring06.
Madeline is a first-year journalism and environmental science double major and the Fall 2025 general assignment reporter. In her free time she enjoys reading, binging new television series, and browsing the isles of target with her friends.
