2014-2015 Grad School of Computer and Information Sciences Viewbook

9 www.scis.nova.edu | “The work I did as a student gives me an appreciation for what I do now. I’m still going back to what I learned at NSU and putting it into practice in my day to day.” —Michael Kozma Michael Kozma always knew he wanted to pursue a career in IT. After receiving a National Security Agency (NSA) scholarship to attend graduate school while he was still an undergraduate student, he began researching NSA-approved graduate programs and schools. NSU stood out. “I looked through NSA’s list, and the M.S. in Information Security program at NSU’s GSCIS was the most interesting to me. The curriculum also seemed the most relevant to what I wanted to do.” Kozma’s instincts proved right. “The transition from classroom life to work life was really smooth. What I learned at NSU immediately translated over to my career.” As part of the scholarship, Kozma worked in a paid internship before starting graduate school. From 2008 to 2010, he attended classes on NSU’s main campus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With his NSA scholarship stipend, he was able to focus on his classes and attend year-round. The Washington, D.C., resident now works as a U.S. government computer scientist, a role he would not have qualified for if it hadn’t been for his master’s degree. “Getting my master’s degree equipped me with the education I needed to really stand out in my career.” Four years later, the computer scientist is still putting into practice what he learned at NSU. “The program really benefited me. The work I did as a student gives me an appreciation for what I do now. I’m still going back to what I learned at NSU and putting it into practice in my day to day.” Kozma’s faculty mentor at NSU helped guide him through the program. Because of his experience at NSU, Kozma hopes to one day serve as a mentor. For now, Kozma has his sights set on a future supervisory position, leading teams on large, global projects and motivating and enabling team members to apply themselves—the way he was motivated at NSU. He also hopes to revisit his favorite destination: Fort Lauderdale. “I still miss it. It’s a gem in South Florida, and a place that I hope to get back to one day.”