Why are you majoring in Information Management & Technology??

I found out about the iSchool because I participated in the IT Girls Program in high school. I had the best time, and now volunteer every year!

What do you think the biggest risk is in the tech field?

Biggest risk in the tech field is security. Information is very valuable, and companies today face constant threats. That’s why I find cyber security so fascinating!

Who has been the most influential person to you in this field?

Reshma Saujani, the founder of girls who code. Participating in their summer program in 2015 was life changing for me. I finally felt comfortable in tech spaces and met so many other girls like me for the first time. I still teach girls who code classes and have a true passion for it.

What makes the iSchool unique compared to other schools on campus?

The iSchool community is very tight knit and like a family. I always know people in the halls and in my classes. I also love being an iSchool peer advisor. It’s so special to see students you’ve mentored go on to help other people.

What is your favorite IST course you’ve taken at the iSchool so far?

It’s hard to say, but I think IST 400 Cloud Technology. The class was challenging for me, but I learned so much about the up and coming cloud industry.

What is Kappa Theta Pi and how did you get involved?

KTP ~kappa theta pi~ is a professional technology fraternity founded inside the ischool but open to anyone on campus who’s passionate about technology. I rushed spring of my freshman year and am now a member of the Alpha Class. 

What has been your favorite event?

There’s so many events I’ve loved including taco night at a brothers place a bonding event and our last formal in the fall was super fun.

How do you think KTP has changed your iSchool experience?

KTP has done nothing but great things for me especially in the iSchool it has enhanced my experience. It’s so fun to see familiar faces in Hinds Hall as well as reach out to a brother for some help in a course they already took or just some advice on classes and professors. We are all here because we are passionate about technology and it has just helped me love the iSchool and technology 300 times more than I already do.

Lindsay Kantor is a Sophomore in the iSchool

Q: Why are you majoring in IM&T?

A: This is a very relevant field to work in today and has many different career paths.

Q: What do you think is the biggest risk in the future of technology?

A: You could be working at tech company say a phone company and the next big thing comes out and knocks your product out of the market you will no longer have a job.

Q: Who has been the most influential person to you in this field?

A: My sister

Q: What makes the iSchool unique compared to the other schools at SU?

A: It is very inclusive; the professors are always willing to help you in the classroom and out of the classroom finding jobs and internships.

Q: How would you describe the iSchool community?

A: Everyone is always welcomed at any event

Q: What is your favorite IST class you’ve taken and why?

A: IST 352 because you get to work in a team and you are put into real life senecios

Why are you majoring in IM&T?

IM&T has been a really diverse major, and has allowed me to delve into many different topics. It’s a very relevant major today that is applicable to every aspect of our life, and especially in a data-driven society.

What do you think is the biggest risk in the future of technology?

Technology is obviously great, and has afforded us a tremendous amount of opportunity. However, in the age of advancement and technology being able to reach new limits, it becomes tougher and tougher on where the line needs to be drawn regarding how far is too far. Artificial intelligence is incredible and terrifying at the same time, and I think we need to proceed with extreme caution to ensure that they won’t become too smart!

Who has been the most influential person to you in this field?

Deb Nosky, the undergraduate program director at the iSchool, is really influential even outside of the classroom. I’m a peer advisor, and she spoke to us the other week asking us about our opinions about things we think are doing well and also what aren’t going too well. This open dialogue conversation has showed me that even though we all come from different backgrounds, you are able to get so much accomplished when you are open and honest.

What makes the iSchool unique compared to the other schools at SU?

The iSchool is a small yet powerful community, and we are all involved with one another whether we know it or not. Our small communities and classes provide for a “cozy” experience, and we get to really get to know our professors as well.

How would you describe the iSchool community?

We are intelligent. We are curious. We are passionate. These are some statements that represent the iSchool, along with so many other amazing accomplishments and identities in the school.

What is your favorite IST class you’ve taken and why?

IST 335: Introduction to Information-Based Organizations taught by Jeff Fouts has been my favorite iSchool class so far. The class was very management based, and allowed us to see how to handle a variety of situations in the workplace, and how to be better communicators and leaders.

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Taylor Steiner is a Sophomore and a dual major in the iSchool and Newhouse

Q: Why are you majoring in IM&T?

A: I worked on a political campaign in high-school and saw the data misuse and how it could be done in a more efficient way.

Q: What do you think is the biggest risk in the future of technology?

A: Smarter than the humans that make it

Q: Who has been the most influential person to you in this field?

A: Sheryl Sandburg

Q: What makes the iSchool unique compared to the other schools at SU?

A: Comprehensive of business, communication and technical skills

Q: How would you describe the iSchool community?

A: Made up of a bunch of different learners and thinkers and it’s cool to see that come together in t he classroom

Q: What is your favorite IST class you’ve taken and why?

A: IST 195 because it solidified I could explore many different career paths in it

Amanda Gregorio is a junior in the iSchool majoring in Information Management and Technology concentrating in web design and management and a minor in Finance in Whitman. She also works part time as a Streaming Support Specialist at SIDEARM Sports. 

SIDEARM Sports provides the technology platform that powers the official websites, mobile apps, statistical integration, live audio and video streaming, and e-commerce platforms of more than 1,000 collegiate athletic partners across the nation. The company, founded by CEO and iSchool professor Jeff Rubin, was originally based out of the iSchool and recently moved downtown.

Amanda shared some of her experiences with us about working at SIDEARM Sports and how that has impacted her time in the iSchool.

What is your role at SIDEARM Sports?

I monitor live-stream NCAA events and ensure that technological errors are addressed either through our software or communicating with on-site clients. I also work to troubleshoot technical difficulties with users or on the websites to maximize customers’ streaming experience.

How has this job helped you with your studies in the iSchool?

Working at SIDEARM has helped me learn how to troubleshot different issues I have in my technical iSchool classes. A lot of the tickets we receive involve working on the backend of our systems, which is similar to what I’m learning in my classes.

What is the biggest challenge of working in customer service?

The biggest challenge of working in customer service is dealing with customers that are frustrated with our service or do not know how to communicate their problems. I’ve learned to be patient when working with them and know how to ask the right questions to get them to a solution.

How do you think this experience will help you after you graduate?

I think this experience will help me after I graduate because I have learned how to deal with frustrated customers adequately. I have also created relationships with the other student and full time workers that has helped me grow my professional network.

Welcome to Students of the iSchool!  Here we will be connecting with students within the iSchool – highlighting their insights and accomplishments – as well as inside scoops on a daily basis.  We will be sharing numerous stories of students in different concentrations, dual programs, and even triple majors! Stay tuned for our upcoming posts!