Dr. Esther Mead
College students often have to wait until after graduation to learn what it’s like to work in their field. However, Dr. Esther Mead is bringing that valuable knowledge to the students in her class at Southern Arkansas University.
Mead, an assistant professor of Information Systems in the Rankin College of Business and an adjunct instructor in the College of Science and Engineering, has scheduled a series of speakers from the computer and information systems industry for students in her course entitled Information Technology Seminar.
“The speakers love doing this for the students,” said Mead.
The guest speakers record short videos for the class. Speakers share their academic and professional experiences, what a typical day at work looks like, advice for students on how to continuously improve their skills development within the industry, and tips for landing their first job following college.
Mead has enlisted speakers from her own network, including former coworkers in the IT field, former students, and former classmates. “Many I worked with, some I went to school with, and some I mentored,” explained Mead.
This semester’s lineup pf speakers participating this spring include Jinhang Jiang, senior data scientist at McKesson; Kazi Tanvir Islam, lead software engineer at Eaton; Recep Erol, HPC administrator at the University of Arkansas; and Connice Trimmingham, senior software engineer with GLG.
Other speakers this semester include Nicholas Kuettle, cybersecurity engineer with SurePoint Technologies; Ricky Eckhardt, senior software engineer with Go Camp; Shiblee Nooman, senior informatics analyst with CancerLinQ; and Oluwaseun Walter, software engineer with J.P. Morgan.
In addition to creating their videos, the speakers share their contact information, including emails and often cell phone numbers, offering students the opportunity to reach out with questions or for career advice.
“The students appreciate it,” said Mead. “They love being able to contact the speakers and interacting with them.”
At the end of the semester, students reflect on their experiences in the class and write about what they’ve gained from the speakers’ insights.
About SAU:
SAU, located in Magnolia, Arkansas, provides students with a complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees in four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to fit the needs of career and professional trends of today. As part of this commitment, SAU proudly offers the Next Step Guarantee program, ensuring that students receive the necessary resources, career guidance, and support to transition successfully from college to their chosen careers or graduate studies. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.
