"It Opened My Eyes"

Adam Driscoll, ‘09 graduated with a B.S. degree in Computing and Information Sciences. He has been back on campus numerous times, speaking with current CIS majors about the rapidly-moving field of information technology.

What I’m doing now:

“I’m working as a manager of software engineering at Dell. I help oversee the entire development process from architecture to deployment and support. I work with a multi-national and distributed team of software developers, testers, product managers and support staff. In addition to my job, I spend time working on open source projects, speaking, and writing both blogs and books. Through this type of activity I’ve been awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional title for the past three years.”

How I decided on my major:

“I’ve always had an interest in computers and programming. I knew from a young age I would be pursuing a career in the field, so when it came time to select a major, it was a pretty easy choice.”

“The technical classes that involved team work and seeing a project through to completion really helped to shape the way I tackle problems in the workplace. Often there is a misperception in the CIS field that work is done alone and behind a computer. This is not the case, and in fact, having a background in working as a team has proved to be extremely important.”

“The computer industry is one of the most connected, and thus makes it almost more important to develop your soft skills as it is your technical ones. Many times we find that the biggest hurdle in software development is merely a matter of communication.”

How the liberal arts shaped my outlook:

“I found my liberal arts education opened my eyes to all kinds of topics that I would not have pursued on my own. It has allowed me to develop a thirst for knowledge outside of my work life. This type of balance helps to shape a person not only as an ideal employee, but also as a well-rounded individual.”

What students can do outside the classroom to prepare:

“An internship proved to be paramount to my learning in school and beyond. Even a few hours a week can open your eyes to what it really means to work in the field. I’ve found that a college education can teach you how to study and learn, but nothing compares to what you can gain from on-the-job training.”