Joshua Masemer may have had an advantage when it came to being selected as Computer Technology’s Academic Excellence Award recipient for the Class of 2019: he had already earned a degree from Dunwoody.
After graduating in 2013 with an associate’s degree in Automated Systems & Robotics, Masemer worked as an automation technician at InSinkErator, a company owned by Emerson Electric that manufactures hot water dispensers and food waste disposal systems. He was happy to be in a successful career, but also discovered that it wasn’t the automated systems part of the job that interested him most.
“I enjoyed doing more on the computer side of things — setting up a small network or troubleshooting from a computer perspective,” he said. “Automation is more mechanical based. Computers is a whole other form of logic that is incredibly challenging, and I enjoyed the challenge.”
A self-described kinesthetic learner, Masemer knew that Dunwoody’s hands-on approach worked for him so he decided to go online and check out what the College offered in the area of computer networking.
“[The program information] indicated that they do a lot of labs so you’re learning on the gear as opposed to just talking about networking theory — actually setting up servers physically and virtually and programming rather than just talking about the theory,” he said.
After enrolling, he was pleased to discover that it matched — maybe even surpassed — his previous experience at the College.
“I’ve enjoyed a lot of my instructors. They provide a fun learning environment,” he said. “I enjoy coming to class every day and seeing what new fun things we can dive into.”
Starting out, Masemer didn’t have quite the experience with computer hardware that some of his classmates did. But he appreciated that the hands-on projects started right away, and the curriculum focused on the skills industry is looking for.
“They try to set up your curriculum as if you had two-years of industry experience already,” he said.
And clearly, once he got his feet wet, Masemer thrived. Not only was he named the Academic Excellence winner for the Department, but he also has already landed a position in the field: he will be will be starting an internship with Mortenson Construction’s IT department after he graduates.
His instructors aren’t surprised. His attendance was 100% (as it was when he got his robotics degree) and he often took the lead in group projects.
“Josh never missed an assignment or a deadline, which is critical in the IT field,” Senior Instructor of Computer Networking Mike Wederath said. “He was constantly pushing himself to absorb as much information as possible.”
Masemer is excited to start his internship and spend some time getting to know the industry. After that he hopes to advance to a network architect position or maybe transition into cybersecurity.
And, who knows? That path may be bring him back again to Dunwoody, which offers bachelor’s completion degrees in Computer Systems Analysis and Cybersecurity (which is launching this fall).