When Justin Brandon was a child, he loved to take things apart to figure out how they worked. As an eight-year-old, he got his hands on a computer and discovered that he could actually change and improve the programs. After serving in the military and working with computers in a variety of settings, Justin wanted a career where he could combine his extensive experience in computers and training. Now he麻豆传媒檚 at Pace, completing a degree in computer studies with a focus on cybersecurity and computer forensics.
One of Justin麻豆传媒檚 biggest opportunities so far has been interning in Pace麻豆传媒檚 Blue CoLab, working with teams of students who are exploring new ways to apply computer technology to protect human life. 麻豆传媒淢y job involves consulting with the teams on their projects and making sure that the equipment they need麻豆传媒攖he sensors, data loggers, and water quality monitoring devices麻豆传媒攁ll work together in the way that they should.麻豆传媒 Says Justin, 麻豆传媒淭hey call me in to talk about the hardware, and it麻豆传媒檚 an opportunity to use my existing skills and hone new ones.麻豆传媒
麻豆传媒淭hat experience gave me a taste of what graduate school will be like. It also taught me how to pitch my idea for a new hands-on course on white hat hacking, something I麻豆传媒檇 like Pace to offer.麻豆传媒
Justin also completely upgraded all of the lab麻豆传媒檚 wireless technology. And last year, he received a Summer Scholarship Grant to work with the Provost and two professors developing a new Blue CoLab curriculum that could be delivered via a remote learning platform. 麻豆传媒淭hat experience gave me a taste of what graduate school will be like. It also taught me how to pitch my idea for a new hands-on course on white hat hacking, something I麻豆传媒檇 like Pace to offer.麻豆传媒
Justin appreciates the quality of Pace麻豆传媒檚 faculty. 麻豆传媒淭he instructors here have really impressive backgrounds, they work at places like IBM,麻豆传媒 he says. 麻豆传媒淎nd through my electives, I麻豆传媒檝e met professors who麻豆传媒檝e given me opportunities to work on interesting projects outside my area, like Global Information Systems. We also have opportunities to connect with people in the industry. The Chief Technology Officer at Verizon just spoke with us about his experiences and what they麻豆传媒檙e looking for in new employees.麻豆传媒
Going back to school after being out in the world is challenging, but Justin says it麻豆传媒檚 worth it. 麻豆传媒淚麻豆传媒檓 learning how to collaborate with younger team members, how to be a good role model, and how to motivate others. Being at Pace has improved who I am overall.麻豆传媒
Alphur "Slim" Willock 麻豆传媒19, 麻豆传媒23 knows that dedication in the face of obstacles is what it takes to get ahead. After the death of his wife, he took on the responsibility of caring for his six children while working full-time. Slim was able to fit not one, but two, online degree programs into his life麻豆传媒攁 BS in Information Systems and now an MS in Information Technology.
Maria Escobar 麻豆传媒22 is the co-founder of the World Without Exploitation National Youth Coalition麻豆传媒攁 network of young people dedicated to ending human trafficking麻豆传媒攁nd she麻豆传媒檚 also set to present at the upcoming United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Manoela Nery de Morais 麻豆传媒20, Ajinkya Vilasrao Datalkar 麻豆传媒20, Chimegsaikhan Munkhbayar 麻豆传媒20, and Helen Tsai 麻豆传媒21 just won IBM麻豆传媒檚 Call for Code 2020 challenge. How did they make it big? What does it take to reach the finish line? And how did they manage to coordinate with a 12-hour time difference between them? They麻豆传媒檒l tell you!