Grad student Joey Yong found leadership, networking opportunities at UC

“I took a computer science class as a science elective, and I really enjoyed putting together programs,” she explains. “That's why I decided to go into computer science.”

Yong, a Lexington native, graduated from Transylvania University in 2023 with two bachelor’s degrees, a B.S. in computer science and a B.A. in digital arts and media. After a year of searching for work in a difficult job market, though, she decided to continue her education with graduate work to improve her employment prospects. On the advice of a family member, she looked to the University of Cincinnati for its robust educational offerings and, specifically, the reputation of the School of Information Technology’s (SoIT) Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) program.

“My mom actually recommended it to me after I told her I was interested in IT,” she says. “I looked into it and was like, that looks really good, especially the rate of people getting jobs after graduating.” Coming from a smaller private institution, Yong was also drawn to the energy of a bigger campus in the bustling city of Cincinnati.

So Yong applied and was accepted to the MSIT program. It’s a move she’s grateful to have made. “It was really refreshing to have such a variety of classes,” she says.

Now nearing completion of the two-year MSIT program, Yong is quick to praise the school's instructors and the courses she’s taken in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology (CECH). She points to professors such as director Hazem Said and assistant professor Joe Johnson as top-quality educators who have helped her along in her educational journey.

“They really know what they're doing,” Yong says, adding that the classes feel very well-structured, with learning tools that have helped her develop in areas she understands to be personal strengths. Group projects assigned during MSIT courses, specifically, have allowed her to explore and improve her leadership skills.

“I already had leadership skills when I was in my undergrad,” she says. “I was the one who got everyone in contact, and that just continued at UC. So it’s given me more opportunities to just do it.”

This personal growth in leadership was further enabled by a professional development class Yong took during her time at UC. The course, taught by Tonkia “Coach Tee” Bridges, helped Yong improve her approach to job searching as she pursued a career in tech.

Yong connected well with Bridges, who also founded and serves as the president and executive director of NERDS (Nurturing Educational Readiness & Development from the Start), a nonprofit that engages local K-12 students in robotics and STEM education.

“Coach Tee, who is my supervisor in NERDs, got me a position as a tutor volunteer at DePaul Cristo Rey High School,” Yong says, explaining that the experience has further helped her refine important leadership skills. “It's just made me realize that is something that I could make a profession out of. I see how that could be put to use in a professional setting.

“I always hear about how jobs want leadership skills, but they never really explain exactly how or why. I feel more steady right now, whereas before I didn't really know what to do.”  

Bridges has also noted Yong’s development as a leader during her time at UC. “She has grown from student to mentor,” says Bridges. “Joey has made significant contributions to IT projects, guiding the professional development student project teams and tutoring high school students through NERDS. Joey has also led several projects, honing her communication and project management skills while collaborating with local nonprofits to provide technical expertise that many organizations would otherwise be unable to access."

Yong plans to graduate from the MSIT program in December, and she’s currently seeking work that will benefit from her honed leadership skills as well as the technical capabilities gained through graduate work. She’s looking to move into a UX/UI (user experience/user interface) position that builds on the web development and app development classes she’s taken, but with the variety of learning experiences she’s gained in the MSIT program and the expanded areas of expertise she’s developed, Yong is also exploring potential opportunities in software development, data science and quality assurance testing.

And though the tech job market remains tight, she’s drawing on the vast network she’s been able to develop through experiences with NERDS and the interactions she’s had in the SoIT as she pursues her career as an MSIT graduate.

“The biggest boon out of everything has been networking,” she says. “There have been many opportunities to attend events that allow me to network and also hear new and current topics in IT.

“The networking opportunities have made my enrollment at UC invaluable.”

Featured image at top: Joey Yong sits outside the Teacher-Dyer Complex on a sunny day. photo/Trey Johnson, CECH Marketing