In what ways did the Polytechnic and/or Purdue help make you uniquely qualified for your new job?
One of the biggest benefits of the Computer and Information Technology department is their emphasis on hands-on learning. By my sophomore year, I was completing labs with enterprise-grade networking equipment. The knowledge I gained in labs set me apart when applying for internships, which in turn helped me fill my resume with corporate experience before graduating from Purdue.
Who would you like to thank as you finish your time at Purdue and start your career?
I would like to thank Dr. Deadman, Dr. Dawn Laux, Professor Rawles, Professor Hands, Trent Epperson, and all of my other professors from the Computer and Information Technology department. Their doors were always open when I needed help and they guided the development of both my technical and professional skills. I would also like to thank Lauren Lucas, my academic advisor, for encouraging me and assisting me with creating a schedule that fit my needs and kept me on track for graduation.
What specific classes helped prepare you for your new job?
- Data Communications and Networking (CNIT 240)
- UNIX Fundamentals (CNIT 340)
- Internet Design & Implementation (CNIT 345)
- Network Security (CNIT 455)
- Incident Response Management (CNIT 470)
- Vulnerability Analysis and Testing (CNIT 471)
I use skills from these classes on a daily basis and they have direct ties to the career paths that interest me the most.
If you had a favorite class, project, experience, or professor, what/who was it, and why?
I have very fond memories in many of my classes of spending hours working through the troubleshooting process to fix or implement technologies in lab. The hands-on aspects of my classes are what really solidified the knowledge and skills that I’ll be taking with me into the workforce.