From Crystals to Circuits: How Dr. Brenda McCaffrey, PhD, found her path through UH Engineering

Sometimes the path to a fulfilling career begins with knowing what doesn’t fit. For Dr. Brenda McCaffrey, a proud alumna of the University of Hawai‘i College of Engineering, the journey to electrical engineering was a process of elimination—and discovery.

“I call it my Goldilocks story,” McCaffrey said. “I had some undergraduate credits from UCSD and knew I wanted to work in technology, so I met with three departments at UH: chemistry, biology, and physics.” Chemistry was the first to go. The department wouldn’t accept her UCSD credits due to the quarter system. Next came biology, where the people were welcoming—but the animal experiments weren’t for her. Physics, though? “It felt right,” she said. “The labs were clean, the professors calm, the work focused. I started catching up on math and physics and worked with Professor Bert Henke growing crystals for fusion reactor detectors. I loved it.”

That foundation in physics proved to be the bridge to engineering. Surrounded by engineering students in her courses, she began taking classes in the College of Engineering. Her strengths in physics and math naturally aligned with semiconductor engineering—and from there, everything clicked.

A pivotal influence during her time at UH was Professor Kazutoshi Najita. “He challenged me, supported me, and made semiconductor physics magical. It was like listening to a favorite uncle tell a story. He believed in me, and that gave me confidence.” That confidence propelled McCaffrey to a successful career in the semiconductor industry. Recruited by Motorola in Mesa, Arizona, she joined a cohort of UH Engineering graduates in the 1980s. She later worked as a device and circuit designer for Brooktree Corporation in San Diego while completing a master’s degree at ASU.

By 1999, she had earned her PhD from ASU and founded White Mountain Labs, a semiconductor test company acquired in 2007. After completing the Advanced Management Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, she transitioned into high-level tech consulting and invention work for Fortune 50 companies.

Today, she’s retired in Phoenix with her husband John and their Sheltie, Sophie—though Hawai‘i remains close to her heart. “We travel to the Islands several times a year.”

That enduring connection to Hawai‘i and UH Engineering inspired the couple to include the college in their estate plans. “My husband and I both appreciate the impact UH had on my life and career. Of all the places we could give, we feel UH Engineering will have the greatest lasting impact. We’re so proud of it.”

For current students, McCaffrey offers clear advice: “Find great teachers and mentors. Pay attention. Don’t take too many shortcuts. And be kind.” Her story is a reminder that the right path might not be obvious at first—but with curiosity, resilience, and the right mentors, it can lead somewhere extraordinary.