• Hometown: Fairfield, OH
• High School: Fairfield Senior High School
• Class: 2027
• Major: Cybersecurity and Networking, Information Technology

Why Miami University?

I ended up choosing Miami mostly because I wanted to stay close to home in southwest Ohio. After looking at a few different options, Miami really stood out — not just because of the location, but because of its reputation and the quality of the program.

How did you choose your major?

Growing up, I was always tinkering on the computer, whether it was playing games, watching tech videos, or just figuring out how things worked. Choosing Cybersecurity and Networking felt like a natural extension of that. I’ve always been fascinated by tech, and the idea of understanding how digital systems are built and secured — and learning how to protect them—just clicked for me.

Tell us about any special experiential learning opportunities -- research, study abroad/away, student organizations, internships, athletics, or other things -- that have influenced you in a positive way.

Outside of classes, I spend a lot of time working on campus as an Information Technology Specialist, which has given me great hands-on tech experience. When I'm not doing that or studying, I’m usually building independent projects to add to my resume or looking into cybersecurity certifications to keep leveling up my skills.

As a Miami student, what are some of your awards and accomplishments? Are you a student leader? Tell us about that and what roles you have played in the Miami community.

I’ve earned a spot on the Dean's List twice so far during my time at Miami, and my goal is to push for the President’s List a few times before I graduate.

What are your plans for after you graduate from Miami? What sort of career are you aiming for? What is your dream job?

After I graduate, my plan is to move out of Ohio, head to a bigger city, and jump straight into my career in tech. Once I’m settled in and established at a job, I definitely want to go back to school to pursue my graduate degree.

If you had an opportunity to talk to a student considering coming to Miami, what would you tell them?

If I had to tell a prospective student anything about Miami, I’d say the cost for education is really reasonable for what you get, and the overall experience is hard to beat. The professors genuinely care, and the student life and campus environment make it a great place to actually spend your college years.

Has Miami provided you with opportunities to engage in research, partnerships, or experiences that shaped your way of thinking?

Working as an IT specialist right here on campus has given me some seriously valuable hands-on experience. It’s totally changed how I approach technical problems and given me a massive boost in confidence.

Have your experiences at Miami helped you develop an entrepreneurial mindset — like being resilient, adaptable, or willing to take risks?

Miami has definitely shaped my mindset, making me much more adaptable and resilient than I was a few years ago. Seeing how the most successful people get to where they are by taking risks, I feel much more willing to step out of my comfort zone and take those chances myself now that I've grown and built up my skills.

Have you used your knowledge or skills from Miami to positively impact your community or the world around you?

I’ve definitely become the go-to "tech guy" for my family and friends. Whenever they run into computer or device issues, they reach out to me, and it’s been cool to actually use what I’m learning at Miami to solve real problems and help the people around me out.

Has Miami helped you build meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds or viewpoints?

Miami is a really diverse place. Whether I'm on the clock at my job or just walking across campus, I’m constantly meeting and talking to people from all over the world.

Have you taken on leadership roles or responsibilities — whether in your classes, work, or community — during your time at Miami?

I try to take on as much leadership as I possibly can because I feel like it gives me invaluable growth as a person in both my personal and professional life. Whether it’s stepping up in group settings or helping classmates work through tough material, I always try to guide people toward success whenever I can.

Tell us about something that you have built at Miami?

I’ve built a bunch of projects for my classes using things like Python, SQL, GNS3, Jenkins, and Docker, and the coolest part is that I actually get to use those exact same tools at my job. In fact, I've written Python scripts for work that are around 2,000 lines long and completely build complex GNS3 network topologies from scratch.

What is the biggest challenge you have overcome?

The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome here at Miami was that brutal transition from high schooler to college student. I actually started out on the Oxford campus as a computer science major and quickly realized it wasn't for me — my grades my first year were honestly pretty terrible because I was just completely stressed out about everything. But once I took a step back, figured out who I was, and found my real path, things finally clicked, and I've been thriving ever since.