Student Spotlight

Andrew Aronow

Andrew Aronow headshot

Where are you from?

Cincinnati, OH. St. Xavier High School; a common follow-up for any fellow Cincinnatians.

What unique perspective do you bring to the MS-IS Program at UC?

With my undergraduate degree in physics and seven semesters of assisting a physics class, I am enthusiastic about, and well-practiced in, explaining technical topics to varying audiences. Additionally, my work experience in the financial services industry provided great practice in hearing, within a client's initial request, the deeper business need they were really looking to solve. I also enjoy drumming, though I've yet to get a band together of other graduate students—adding that to the to-do list.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

Get to know your professors. You have access to leading researchers and experienced industry professionals who are sincerely excited to help you learn and grow.

What industry do you hope to start working in upon graduation?

Consulting, either in IT specifically or in a broader, strategic sense.

Anupriya Kushwanshi

Anupriya Kushwanshi headshot

Where are you from?

I’m from India. I was born in East India but I have studied and worked in Central and South Indian states.

What unique perspective do you bring to the MS-IS Program at UC?

I represent a group of people having varied life experiences. I have stayed in four culturally different states in my country that each had their own language, cuisine and culture. As an MS-IS ambassador I am working toward filling the gap between academic cultures and beyond by guiding incoming students.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

Know where would you like to see yourself after the program. Choose your subjects wisely. Remember that seniors are always there to help. Network with people beyond your program and enjoy the beautiful fall and winter seasons here!

What industry do you hope to start working in upon graduation?

I would love to work as a data analyst. UC has great analytics courses and I’m excited for my spring semester when I get to study all my elective subjects.

Ankeeta Majumder

Ankeeta Majumder headshot

Where are you from?

I am from Kolkata, the City of Joy. I lived there for more than 25 years before moving to Cincinnati to pursue my Master's in Information Systems at Lindner College of Business–one of the leading business colleges in the States.

What unique perspective do you bring to the MS-IS Program at UC?

I have an undergrad degree in information technology and around four years of work experience in the IT industry, where I have worked as a front-end web developer, quality assurance analyst, and business requirement analyst. Today, breakneck advances in technology and faster product lifecycles characterize the business environment. It becomes inevitable to make use of information technology and data analysis to discover innovative ways to solve business problems of today and tomorrow. I aspire to gain knowledge about the foundations of database and project management methodologies, data analysis and modeling techniques, along with statistical computing  and enterprise architecture insights. The courses offered in this program completely cater to my diverse experiences.

How has being an ambassador for the MS-IS program impacted your career?

As an MS-IS ambassador, it has been a privilege to have the opportunity to interact with upcoming students, help them with their questions, thoughts and concerns about the program, and in a way understand how every individual is thinking differently and how excited they are to get a master's degree. I also had the opportunity to interact with some students during my visit to India in December 2018. Kelly, our academic advisor, and my ambassador team, are always trying to leverage new aspects of the program, like in-class experience and advice from our seniors and current students. Being an MS-IS ambassador also enhanced my resume, since it reflects the decision-making skills and the responsibilities associated with it.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

My advice would be to think about which field they want to pursue based on their work experience. In the States work experience matters the most in getting a good internship, co-op, or full-time position. Every student in this program has their own perspective, building their career path and becoming an expert in their own field. This is a very fast-paced program, so it is very essential to keep up. Our professors and career advisors are always more than ready to help us learn and grow. It is very important to network here and seniors are always there to guide. All the best, enjoy the program, and welcome!

Roshana Raman

Roshana Raman photo

What are you involved with while pursing your Masters in IS at UC?

I am currently pursuing an MS-IS degree along with the Data Analytics certificate at UC. I’m also working part time as a graduate assistant at the UC Office of Institutional Research. My job entails a great deal of reporting and analyses for the entire university using analytical tools like SAS and Tableau.

How has being an ambassador for the MS-IS program impacted your career?

As an ambassador for the MS-IS program, it gives me immense pleasure to have the opportunity of presenting the MS-IS Career Analysis. There was certainly a feel-good factor when I was able to some of what I have learned since I got here into practice!

How would you describe the program’s faculty and staff?

We have excellent faculty comprising experienced professionals and researchers who are committed to helping us learn and advance in our careers. Angie Lucas, our program’s career coach, has always shown a keen interest in ensuring each student can schedule one-on-one meetings to discuss goals that motivate us to achieve our individual milestones. This program has truly been enriching and has taught me to be analytical and data-oriented, and I intend to reflect that in my work going forward.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

My little piece of advice to the upcoming batch would be to try become an expert in your own preferred niche areas. Build your public repositories and try your hand at interesting projects within that scope. If you’re looking to switch careers, kickstart your learning to be ahead of the game. And of course, network! All the very best and welcome!

Jaydeep Salian

Jaydeep Salian headshot

Where are you from?

I am from Mumbai, India, which is why I love the hustle and bustle of fast-paced city life.

What unique perspective do you bring to the MS-IS Program at UC?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a variety of diverse life experiences. Mumbai is a multicultural city; people from all over India have migrated there. So I’ve grown up with a large and heterogeneous collection of people, absorbing different cultures and learning five languages and dialects on the way. I completed my undergraduate degree in Melbourne, Australia, where again I met a culturally diverse population, but this time on a global scale. These experiences have helped me in my professional life, where I worked as an SAP consultant, and I've learned to collaborate with many people with different characteristics

What advice would you give to prospective students?

I’d say give a lot of thought to where you want to be at the end of the program. Talk to our faculty and alumni about your interests and choose your courses wisely. UC has amazing resources that you absolutely should leverage. The program is very intensive but absolutely worth it. And last but not least, have fun!

What industry do you hope to start working in upon graduation?

I hope to continue my journey in ERP. I believe my technical skill,s along with the business acumen I’m gaining in this program, with hold me in good stead.

Kinjal Shah

Kinjal Shah headshot

Where are you from?

I am from Surat, famously known as the textile and diamond city of India. However, I spent seven years working in Mumbai (Bombay), the financial and entertainment capital of India.

What unique perspective do you bring to the MS-IS Program at UC?

I have an undergrad degree in information technology and about eight years of experience in the IT Industry working in various roles: data analyst, SAP consultant, and SQL and web developer. This enriching experience has enabled me to understand the in-depth functioning of IT industry and its ever-changing technological needs. With my diverse experiences, I can better relate to different topics covered in this program and understand their industry applications.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

Be mindful of your future goals and understand how this program will help you achieve them. There will be multiple opportunities to learn and grow, as long as you demonstrate proactiveness and enthusiasm. This program is quite vast, but it is totally worth the time and efforts if you focus your energy correctly.

What industry do you hope to start working in upon graduation?

I am passionate about data analytics and data science. The MS-IS program along with the data science certificate has given me big head start in this area and I plan to pursue a career in this field upon graduation.