Educational Program of the Graduate School of Computer and Information Science at Nova Southeastern University - Essay Example

Educational Program of the Graduate School of Computer and Information Science at Nova Southeastern University As I turn another chapter in the book of my life, I come across the high formidable walls of Nova Southeastern University. Humbly, I submit myself to the rigors that all prior applicants have gone through. There are success stories as well as unsuccessful stories as well. Respectfully, the following paragraphs are the stories of my open -book life as I knock on my New Alma Mater’s door with hope and understanding. My life has been focused on two major goals. First, my long term goal in obtaining this degree will be to increase the intensity of my continuing contributions to the field of Information Technology (Mcginn, 2008). To this end, I will light that midnight oil as I engross myself in the exchange of intellectual information among my classmates and mentors as a graduate student of Nova Southeastern University. But, my ultimate goal is to inspire innovation and passion for Computer Science in the lives of my future students. For, I firmly believe that someday many will continue the fire burning in me to touch the lives people in all walks of life through the use of information technology. Definitely, both goals can be achieved faster because I have found the missing link. And, I learned that the unique educational program of the Graduate School of Computer and Information Science at Nova Southeastern University is one of the many features why many students study and research here. For, one of the main reasons for my selection of Nova Southeastern University is its Cluster classroom format. Since I am a firm believer in the concept of teamwork, I believe the cluster meetings will be beneficial for me as I network and team with others in my field with the guidance and wisdom of my instructors. Further, I believe I will also be able to make a formidable contribution to my classmates and professors as we exchange prior experiences, expertise and hopes in a bond that will last a lifetime. Furthermore, the online aspect of the program is equally as attractive to me as the cluster meetings. I am no stranger to on-line learning since at least 50% of my undergraduate courses and 90% of my Masters courses took advantage of the online format. For, the school’s unique learning environment is the missing link that will help me maximize my current skills and capabilities in the field of Information Technology in my zeal to improve the lives of people using information technology. Evidently, my entire life has been seriously focused in the complex but rewarding world information technology. Currently, I am employed as the Director of Information Technology for the Tervis Tumbler Company. In this role, I manage all aspects of the Information Technology infrastructure at Tervis Tumbler including the design and development of all corporate/client server, CRM, ERP Database (Microsoft Navision), B2B and B2C Web Sites, and other integrated WEB based applications. I also manage the enterprise database network development and maintenance, manage all IT professionals, including, programmers, analysts, and network administrator and web designers. Surely, my leadership skills, intellectual upbringing and my very effective camaraderie with subordinates these positions shows that my life has been spent well. Also, to accomplish the two major goals above, I have inputted other long term goals to help me along. Seriously, my desire at this point in life is to refine my current skill-set in order to: 1. To be able to contribute to the field of computer science especially in the areas of database design. 2. To eventually teach. 3. To gain more knowledge of both the management and practice of Information Technology. I see the pursuit of this degree as an opportunity to enhance my value to my employer, The Tervis Tumbler Company, in a number of ways. a) Enhanced management skills b) Learning about new advances in Information Technology c) Developing some of my own ideas especially in the area of the effects of database normalization on computing system resources. Clearly, The above long term goals can be accomplish with the priced knowledge I will find in this school. Also, my life of honesty, compassion, drive to succeed, and loyalty to people around me plus my current academic performance are credentials that have made me what I am today. Meaning, I have been an extremely successful student earning a 3.9 GPA for my undergraduate work and a 3.71 GPA at Boston University for my Masters degree work. I am passionate about my education and demand excellence from myself in both my team projects and individual work. Thus, my life is a success true which will be catapulted further with the inputs I will get from this school. My life and work is grounded on my analytical, communication and organizational prowess. For, I invented a new security mechanism and secured US government patent on this device. Also, had been successfully tasked with the challenge at Kastle of developing electronic door opening device that could be opened remotely by phone, designed secure lockout feature, eliminating possibility of unauthorized individual using touch tone generator to bypass security system as I generated US patent for company. Further, I Developed national database system to provide training and support for new product launch, tasked with design and development of national database for in-hospital surgical training system at Surgical Safety Products, led requirement gathering, design development and deployment of project, assembled team of programmers and support personnel to provide product support and was successfully deployed to numerous hospitals across US, Instituted automated process, generating annual savings of $2.2M. Intertape paying out $24M+ per year in rebates to customers, requiring dozens of staff and three months to complete quarterly payment cycle and other accomplishments. My life is been fruitfully grounded on my prowess. I have united the subordinates around me as we triumphantly overcame each obstacle that hindered accomplishment of benchmark objectives. Such as, I led others to winningly increase over-all IT performance immediately, improving system uptime from 80%, Successfully completed all pending IT projects, Initiated critical claims processing procedures producing savings of $4M by year two and other cost reduction and income generating stories. My experience in Information Technology for the past 24 years has been in the areas of providing creative technical solutions that enhance bottom-line profitability for the organizations I have worked for including, Kastle Systems, Arthur Andersen, Intertape Polymer Group and the Tervis Tumbler Company. In each of these companies, I have been responsible for establishing strategic direction and aligning technology, processes and personnel to achieve the strategic plan. I have also built and lead highly productive Information Technology teams that have implemented and supported a wide variety of technologies. In conclusion, I have found the missing link in my life –Nova Southeastern University. As I apply for admission, I tuck under my belt my past experiences, prior academic achievements, my zeal to improve the lives of people in all walks of life through the use of information technology in schools, hospitals, workplace, groceries and online business transactions. Also, my desire to inculcate the mission and vision of my new Alma Mater plus my current drive to contribute my small share to guide my future IT students as they also study to fulfill their future dreams is what puts this serious application for approval. REFERENCE: McGinn et al., Information Technology, Corporate Productivity and the New Economy, Quorum Books, Westport, CT., 2002 Read More