Adam Keppler - The Inspiring Instructor

With Adam Keppler after our final lecture

Adam's teaching is simply amazing. He showed up to every single lecture with no exceptions, even though we had two instructors. His dedication was inspiring. We had wonderful conversations about computer systems concepts, my discovery of vulnerabilities, life, and everything in between.

I had never used GDB before this course, and I excitedly told him that I found a way to bypass the "bank protection alert" in our security assignment. He appreciated that I was a quick learner and encouraged me to explore further.

"I always asked tons of questions in lectures (that's pretty much why I sat in the first row!). Even when some questions were basic, Adam patiently answered my confusion and followed my thanks with a big smile and 'Absolutely!' His positive responses always inspired and encouraged students to think deeply."

I genuinely believe Adam's teaching style and encouragement were key factors in my success in this course.

Ola Adekola - Making Complex Topics Accessible

With Ola after the last lecture on final review session

Big thanks to Ola! Ola's humorous tone and teaching style made dense or potentially boring content feel interesting and relaxing. The analogies and live demos helped me connect the dots between lecture material and assignments in ways I hadn't expected.

After class, Ola was always friendly and open to questions, offering clear explanations of complex concepts that really helped solidify my understanding. Whether it was pointer arithmetic or assembly language intricacies, Ola had a way of making everything click.

Ben Yan - The Best TA I've Ever Met

Celebrating with Ben after the final lab

Ben Yan (he/they) is, without a doubt, the best TA I have ever met. Their slides weren't just informative—they were engaging and sometimes even entertaining. Ben's teaching was super fluent, like that of a seasoned lecturer, and the meticulous, rigorous comments on our homework were incredibly helpful.

Go for it, Ben!

"Please stick to your teaching—it's terrific, and I want to be the first student when you become a lecturer!"

Ben's discussion section was the highlight of my week. They had this remarkable ability to break down complex topics into digestible pieces while maintaining technical rigor. Their feedback on assignments went above and beyond, often including additional resources and suggestions for further exploration. Ben's dedication to student success and their passion for systems programming made every session invaluable.

Alex Keller - Security Expert and Mentor

A huge thanks to Alex Keller, Stanford's Senior Systems Security Engineer, who took time from his busy schedule to discuss the AFS vulnerabilities I discovered. Our productive conversation covered not just the technical aspects of the security issues, but also broader topics about systems security and career paths in the field.

What struck me most was Alex's philosophy: "If you do good work at Stanford, you will be rewarded with opportunities to do more good work." This perspective helped me understand that contributing to Stanford's security through responsible disclosure was valuable experience in itself—and motivation to continue learning and contributing wherever possible.

Alex brings unique expertise to Stanford, having coached Stanford Applied Cyber for 10 years. During our meeting, he showed me the team's training facilities and shared insights about competitive cybersecurity. His dedication recently paid off with Applied Cyber winning 1st place in both the ICS (Industrial Control Systems) and Goldbug CTFs in Las Vegas—an impressive achievement for the team.

Our discussion ranged from technical details of AFS architecture to life experiences and personal journeys. Alex's willingness to mentor students and dedication to helping students with passion to chase their dream made our conversation particularly valuable. It's a shame that we didn't take a pic together but I believe we will see soon!

Matthew Sotoudeh - The Algorithm Master

With Matthew Sotoudeh after the final exam

Huge thanks to Matthew Sotoudeh! I'm also hugely impressed by his written materials (CS161 Notes). Matthew considered everything comprehensively—the thinking behind lectures (I mean the pace and step-by-step depth) and even the snacks for asking questions were awesome!

He always repeats and interprets the questions asked by other students, which is so helpful because I sometimes couldn't hear or didn't understand what they said. This thoughtful approach made complex algorithm analysis accessible to everyone.