Four Ying Wu College of Computing Students: Life After 2023 Graduation

“So, what are your plans after graduation?” This is the question asked by uncles and aunts, grandparents, neighbors – and occasionally parents – from the Thanksgiving dinner table right up until graduation day. Four May 2023 Ying Wu College of Computing (YWCC) graduates highlighted below are a few of many who have hit the ground running and found gainful employment in challenging, growth-oriented positions prior to or immediately following the walk to the dais to receive their diploma.

Several of the former students credit getting an early start on the networking and application process, but all agree that the opportunity to dive in at the beginning of NJIT’s hands-on, practical approach to education was key to gaining an edge on the competition.

All seniors must complete at least one capstone project as a graduation requirement, and have the option of either working as part of a tech team on assignment to a sponsor company, choosing the CISCO entrepreneurship track for addressing network and information security, or developing their own entrepreneurial prototype with market potential. Three of the students acquired additional leadership skills as part of the capstone enterprise team, which is essentially responsible for overseeing the entire capstone process, from managing projects and data, to organizing the open house showcase.

Some of the graduates will have a bit of down time before starting jobs during the months of July and August, while others have already begun their professional journeys across the country to states such as Texas, Massachusetts and Maryland.

The desire to explore the world outside New Jersey was important to most who have grown up in the Garden State. But everyone was unanimous in citing the invaluable learning and training received at NJIT and YWCC for preparing them to effectively solve some of today’s most pressing high-tech issues beyond home.

Grace Leverett

Degree: B.S. in Computer Science & Applied Mathematics

Hometown: Blairstown, NJ

Company: Capital One – Boston, MA

Position: Technical Development Program

Start Date: August 21

Future Goals: Work on apps or online banking as a software engineer

Why She Chose NJIT: “I looked at three schools, but NJIT’s elite reputation for math combined with its hands-on, applicable approach, which was immediately transferrable to what’s happening in industry right now, was the deciding factor.”

Capstone Project: Enterprise Team. “Overseeing the entire process, working with people, meeting deadlines… All of these things really helped me develop the kinds of skills I need beyond computing. I also made a lot of new friends, and, specifically, more female friends. This was important to me as a woman in technology, where we still are in the minority.” 

Grace credits her mother with helping to develop a love of math and coding at a young age. “I’ve been coding since I was ten! In high school I took all the computer courses I could,” she said. Her mother home schooled her for the first two years through Khan Academy, which provided the free education videos that began Grace’s passion for a future career in computing.

Nick Merlino

Degree: B.S. in Computer Science (Magna Cum Laude)

Albert Dorman Honors College

Hometown: South Orange, NJ

Company: AT&T – Middletown, NJ

Position: Technical Development Program (Dev. Ops.)

Start Date: July 17

Future Goals: Further explore AI, especially Chat GPT

Capstone Project: ADP team project manager to develop an AI chatbot

Why He Chose NJIT: “NJIT helped me achieve much more than I ever could have on my own. Now I know exactly what I want in my career.”

Nick is “super excited” to join AT&T, a company with New Jersey roots. His work will be focused on development operations (Dev. Ops.) He admires UNIX and C programming as well as the people who worked on them at Bell Labs beginning in 1969 because of their influence on modern computing. Although he had done well in his first interview with AT&T, he was initially informed that they would be moving on to other candidates, only to be called back to interview for his current position a few days later. On being project manager for his capstone team, he noted, “It was tough. You’re managing all the details, keeping things in order, and being in charge.”

Amritha Venigalla

Degree: B.S. in Computer Science & Applied Mathematics

Albert Dorman Honors College

Hometown: South Brunswick, NJ

Company: Expedia – Austin, TX

Position: New Grad Software Engineer

Start Date: End of August

Future Goals: Become a full stack developer with a focus in UI development, working with customer tools or internal tools, or anything that impacts the product.

Why She Chose NJIT: The ability to combine her main interest in Applied Math with Computer Science as a double major. Through doing two capstone projects, she was able to “see the full development process and apply learning directly to the job.’’ A large reason was also for all of the academic and networking opportunities that the honors college would bring.

CS Capstone Project: Project Manager for updating OMAT application for SQR Lab

Math Capstone Project: Modeling Frost Formation utilizing Monte Carlo Simulations

Amritha applied to Expedia early during her senior year as one of her target companies. As a traveler who loves the company’s products, she is very excited to be part of making a great experience for others who share her passion. “I was also so happy to find that I was being placed in Texas. I greatly wanted something that would take me out-of-state.”

Janice Vijayarangam

Degree: B.S. in Computer Science & Information Technology

Albert Dorman Honors College

Hometown: Levittown, PA

Company: T. Rowe Price – Owings Mill, MD

Position: Associate Software Engineer

Start Date: June 27

Future Goals: Learning and growing in her career at T. Rowe Price, where she began as a part-time intern.

Why She Chose NJIT: She was inspired by NJIT’s commitment to helping others and giving back to the community. This was particularly evidenced in the work done through the Honor’s College. The practical, hands-on approach to learning and skill building allows you to “step in and do the work” immediately.

Capstone Project: Enterprise Team, with management responsibility for the four-person data team under Operations. “I realized that I liked project management, and its ability to help guide people and organizations.”

Janice is part of the BS/MS at NJIT and is now working on completing her master’s degree. While at the university, she served in various capacities, including being a math tutor, and president of the e-board of Cru, a student Christian organization, which further supports the university’s mission of giving back through the practice of servant leadership. She was also involved in SOMA (The Society of Musical Arts) as a violinist and concertmaster, and served on the e-board of this organization as well. A highlight for her was playing in a string quartet at President Lim’s Inauguration Gala in April.

Beyond the job itself and the growth opportunities that will result, she was attracted to T. Rowe Price’s company culture, and is grateful for the friendly, fun and helpful atmosphere. “I am very excited to move to MD, and I’m looking forward to new experiences!” She appears in one of NJIT’s 2023 Student Success Videos.