Alumni Speaker Series: Past Speakers

Description: Lessons learned from participation in a NASA simulated Mars mission can inform how we interact with our professional colleagues, fellow students, and navigate interpersonal issues in everyday life.

Bio: Russ Klvacek, from Salt Lake City, Utah, works as a machine learning engineer at the SAIC AI Innovation Factory. Previously, he was a data scientist for an aerospace composites manufacturer, for which he developed various models to describe material strength, predict and preempt machine failure, and forecast business processes. Russ is a 2020 OMSCS graduate and current TA for ISYE 6501. In his free time, Russ enjoys hiking and frequenting coffee shops, playing board games, and finding new ways to approximate being an astronaut.

Description: This presentation aims to show students how to get the most out of the OMSCS program for their professional growth. Topics covered will be as follows:

• Choosing courses and specializations for your career growth or career shift
• Building your network and friendships with other students remotely
• Extracurricular activities in OMSCS
• OMSCS after you graduate

Bio: Carlos is a software engineer and researcher with more than 7 years of experience in full stack development. Currently, he works at Samsung Research developing internal tools that are used by multiple teams across the globe and developing patents relating to 5G and mixed reality.

Description: Have you ever thought about teaching at the collegiate level? Contrary to what you might think, numerous institutions, spanning from community colleges to esteemed R1 universities, seek full-time non-tenure track instructors and lecturers with master's degrees. Kathleen Malone, an instructor at Villanova University's Department of Computing Sciences since 2019, and a seasoned adjunct instructor across diverse collegiate landscapes since 2016, will bring firsthand insights into this career path. She will share her journey, shedding light on the challenges and rewards of teaching in higher education, both part-time and full-time. Whether you're contemplating a career shift or seeking to enrich your educational journey through part-time adjunct work, Kathleen will offer guidance on what it takes to break into and excel in higher education teaching.

Bio: Kathleen Malone is an instructor in the department of Computing Sciences at Villanova University. Kathleen started teaching part-time seven years ago, and prior to working at Villanova, she was an adjunct at all types of schools, from Delaware County Community College to Penn State University to the University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, Villanova hired Kathleen as a full-time instructor where she teaches Analysis of Algorithms and Platform Computing and Applied Machine Learning. She is also the coach of the Villanova programming team and helps prepare students for programming competitions such as the annual ICPC competition.

Description: Let's cut to the chase—entrepreneurship and innovation are more than just buzzwords; they are mechanisms for positive change. In this talk, Heidi shares a roadmap for those thinking of founding or are in the middle of running a startup. She goes through the critical phases and touches on topics such as idea validation, funding, scaling, and long-term impact. She goes beyond theory and includes stories from practice. She talks about how we can build better futures, laying the groundwork today for a more innovative, responsible, and inclusive tomorrow.

Bio: Heidi Hysell is the founder of Future Founders and works with founders and CxOs to build better businesses and better futures. Her insights, frameworks, and support enable organizations to envision the future and evolve businesses. With a track record that includes advising portfolio companies for Samsung Next, launching Alpha Drive, a pioneering startup in benchmarking embodied AI, and consulting with Fortune 500 firms with Board of Innovation, she's seen firsthand what it takes to succeed in this game and have an impact.