Category Archives: Employee Spotlight

Data Center Operations, Employee Spotlight, Engineering Technology, NOVA IET

Faculty Spotlight in Data Center Operations: Dr. John Sound

“Learn while you can. Use your time to build a strong foundation of knowledge about the field.”

Dr. John Sound began his career at NOVA 20 years ago as an adjunct instructor at the Alexandria campus, teaching humanities and religion. He later transitioned to full-time roles teaching math and, eventually, engineering technology. In 2018, he brought his expertise in microelectronics to the Manassas campus, where he played a key role in developing the Engineering Technology program. Today, he teaches a variety of IET courses, blending his technical knowledge with a passion for education.

Dr. Sound’s dedication to teaching and the IET field is rooted in his upbringing—both of his parents were educators. While earning his master’s degree in public administration at the University of Pittsburgh, he worked as a teaching research assistant. During his doctoral studies in India, he also served as a teaching assistant in the technology industry, further cementing his commitment to education.

Currently, Dr. Sound co-teaches a Fiber Optics Technology workshop on Saturdays with Professor Amir Mehmood. He also instructs courses such as Basic Technical Mathematics, Electric Motor Control, Fiber Optics Technology, Computations for Engineering Technology, OSHA 10, Student Development, Team Concepts & Problem Solving, and Introduction to Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.

Among these, Electric Motor Control and Fiber Optics Technology are particularly hands-on. In Electric Motor Control, students work with various modules to understand motor operations, while in Fiber Optics Technology, they learn about fiber types, terminations, connectors, and splicing techniques. Furthermore, students learn automation using mechatronics trainers.

The program also incorporates cutting-edge technology, including digital electronic modules, advanced Sumitomo splicing equipment, upgraded motor control components, and AC/DC trainers. These innovations simplify system simulation by allowing students to connect components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors using cables instead of traditional breadboards.

“As the industry evolves, we strive to introduce new, hands-on tools so students can confidently demonstrate their skills in the workplace,” he says.

Dr. Sound has seen many of his students thrive in their careers. He previously taught a few cohorts of students through Year Up, a nonprofit that prepares participants for roles at companies like Micron. He often encounters these former students excelling in the field.

Last semester, two of his students, Jennifer and Marina, achieved notable success. Both received perfect 4 out of 4 evaluations. Marina, who holds an engineering degree, was promoted to an engineer, while Jennifer advanced to a T2 position.

“To teach effectively, I must be well-qualified,” Dr. Sound explains. “That knowledge benefits me first, then flows to my students as they learn to the same standard. I see the impact when they grasp the material and are ready to apply it in their chosen fields. It strengthens and energizes me to see the results of my teaching—especially when I visit Micron and data centers, where I see my students thriving. That’s the reward for my hard work and what keeps me motivated.”

He also encourages students in the IET field to embrace all aspects of their education, even if certain concepts don’t seem immediately relevant.

“I studied optimization and advanced calculus,” he says. “Do I use those every day? No. But that’s the standard of the program—it builds a foundation. It’s not about applying everything directly; it’s about developing the ability to learn. With a strong foundation, your brain can adapt to new challenges. When you face something unfamiliar, you can say, ‘I don’t know this yet, but I can learn it.’ That mindset is key to success.”

Dr. Sound can be reached at jsound@nvcc.edu

Data Center Operations, Data Centers, Employee Spotlight, Engineering Technology, NOVA IET

NOVA DCO Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Amir Mehmood

“We started the DCO program with single rooms at the Loudoun and Manassas campuses. Now, we’ve built full facilities at both locations, as well as at Woodbridge and discussing facilities at Alexandria and Annandale. I want to thank and applaud the entire NOVA team for making this happen.”

Balancing Roles in Academia and Industry

Calling Dr. Amir Mehmood “busy” hardly captures the full picture. Since joining NVCC in 2019, he has led the DCO program while also teaching in the Engineering Technology and DCO departments. On top of his full-time role at NOVA, Amir took on a second significant position in 2022 as a Senior Customer Success Engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Balancing both worlds, he skillfully connects academic insight with industry expertise.

“My passion for engineering began with my love for math, fostered by my teachers and my natural inclination toward technology,” he shares.“For those who enjoy solving technical problems, engineering is a perfect fit. I chose electrical engineering and electronics because, in the mid-90s when I entered the field, technology was evolving at a rapid pace. Now, computers are a fundamental part of our daily lives.”

In collaboration with Dr. John Sound, Amir launched NOVA’s DCO initiative in 2019. As head of the program, he handles everything from organizing the schedule for 20 to 22 classes per semester to managing faculty and resources. Beyond his administrative responsibilities, he also teaches five to six courses each term, including Building Automation and Energy Management Systems, Electrical Machines, Electric Motor Control, Fiber Optic Technology, Power Distribution Systems, and Programmable Logic Controllers.

His dedication to teaching is evident in his interactions with students. He values their input and takes pride in their achievements. “It’s fulfilling to see students excel in such a hands-on field,” he says.

The DCO curriculum emphasizes practical learning. In the fiber optics course, for instance, students practice terminating, splicing, and testing—critical skills in the industry. In motor control classes, students use electrical trainers to perform tasks related to power distribution, and since building a full lab for power distribution is difficult, students also visit local data centers.

Since its inception, the DCO program has grown significantly. “We began with just baseline UPS systems, a few racks, and some basic equipment,” he recalls. “Each year, we’ve made strides to upgrade with newer technology.” Recently, NOVA invested in a state-of-the-art $6 million lab at the Woodbridge Campus, featuring the latest racks, UPS units, and power distribution systems.

In addition to his academic responsibilities, Amir continues his work at AWS, where he helps clients in Northern Virginia and emerging markets. His role involves addressing training needs, troubleshooting virtual systems, and advising data center communities. His industry experience brings valuable insight back to his students.

For those interested in DCO, he offers encouraging advice: “If you love technology—even if math isn’t your strongest subject—this is a fantastic field to explore. Data centers are here to stay, offering a stable and growing career path.”

The demand for DCO graduates is high. “Since 2018, the number of data centers in Northern Virginia has nearly tripled,” he notes. “While space here is limited, the industry is expanding to places like Florida, California, Oregon, Texas, and even internationally, in Europe and Asia.”

Employee Spotlight, New Employee

New Employee Spotlights

We’re pleased to introduce two new members of our team: Regional STEM Coordinators Ti’Era Worsley and Christine Hirst Bernhardt.

Ti’Era joins NOVA SySTEMic from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was a Postdoctoral Researcher working with historically marginalized youth in informal makerspaces at the local Boys and Girls Club. During her time there, Ti’Era worked with youth for six years in STEM education, overseeing various projects ranging from circuitry, coding, robotics, to construction.

Ti’Era describes herself as a “Certified Tinkerer,” a passion she developed during her childhood. This interest led her to earn a Bachelor’s in Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Technology and a Master of Natural Resources, both from North Carolina State University.

While pursuing her Master’s, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer through the Masters International program. From 2015 to 2017, Ti’Era served in Northern Peru as a Community-Based Environmental Manager, where she focused on raising awareness of environmental stewardship, conservation of natural resources, and solid waste management (recycling).

Upon her return, she continued her work with youth and earned her Ph.D. in STEM Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ti’Era is passionate about fostering community by placing a high value on building relationships with youth as they engage in STEM.

When she’s not working, Ti’Era enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Ti’Era can be reached at tworsley@nvcc.edu

Christine Hirst Bernhardt brings nearly two decades of experience teaching STEM and astronomy in both secondary and college. She is interested in using Earth and Space topics as a transdisciplinary gateway to STEM and conduit of agency, particularly in early learning.

In 2021-2022 she served in Congress as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow to advance federal STEM education initiatives. Her enthusiasm for all things space fostered the Excellence in Astronomy Teaching award and participation on NASA’s SOFIA mission. She has developed regional, State, and National materials such as a high-altitude balloon experiment program, the first student space symposium and an international space camp.

Christine identifies and addresses national needs in Earth and Space education as the US chair of the National Astronomy Education Coordinator team and US member of the Global Leadership in Earth Science Education. She is a PhD Candidate in STEM Education and holds Master’s in both Space Studies and Science Education.

A California native, Christine loves all things adventure; as a retired professional mountain biker, she’s often on the trails or the bike park when she’s not recovering from knee surgery. Christine has traveled to nearly 30 countries and is a proud boy mom of humans and dogs.

Christine can be reached at lhirst@nvcc.edu

 

 

Employee Spotlight, New Employee

IET New Employee Spotlights

We recently brought on two new full-time members to our team, Justin Owen and J. Braden Traw.

Justin Owen, IET Career and Technical Education Coordinator

Justin joined the NOVA IET team in late 2023. A Danville native, Justin has over 17 years of experience in the manufacturing sector and higher education. His most significant industrial experience came from Babcock and Wilcox Technologies, a manufacturer of Naval nuclear components. In addition, he has also served as an Instructor of Precision Machining Technology for Pittsylvania County Schools and most recently Danville Community College. In these positions, Justin cultivated dual enrollment pipelines, led career and technical student organizations, developed credential-based accelerated training for the defense industry, and set goals of helping students find their careers in the skilled workforce. Justin holds multiple industry certifications, an Associate of Applied Science in Integrated Machining Technology from Danville Community College, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Averett University. In his spare time, Justin enjoys his family, outdoor activities, and looks forward to exploring all that Northern Virginia has to offer.

Justin can be reached at jlowen@nvcc.edu

J. Braden Traw, IET Recruitment and Engagement Specialist

Braden is excited to support NOVA’S IET department’s goals of increasing student recruitment and engagement. He is particularly excited to support underrepresented groups that have historically experienced barriers in engaging with STEM fields. Previously he has worked with special needs children in a variety of educational and supportive capacities. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Video Studies from George Mason University with a minor in Creative Writing. In his free time he likes reading books, writing poetry, and learning about history.

Contact Braden at jtraw@nvcc.edu

 

Employee Spotlight, Hispanic Heritage, Student to Workforce, Tech Equity

Graduate Success Stories in Tech for Hispanic Heritage Month

Emily Reyna, a NOVA grad, recently worked as a STEM Support Specialist for NOVA SySTEMic before moving on to her dream job as a Tester at Bethesda Softworks, a AAA game studio. As part of her farewell she gave us some insights about her experience as a Latina pursuing an in-demand tech career.

How did you first learn about NOVA?

Growing up NOVA was a topic at all our family gatherings. My grandmother and grandfather worked here, close to their retiring my mom began working here, and now both my sister and I work here. In addition to work, I had the opportunity to see so much success come from our students as I grew up so I knew I would go to NOVA before finishing my degree at another institution.

How were you first inspired in STEM?

My teacher at Battlefield High School, Mr. Bishop, encouraged me to go into the STEM field by taking me through the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program and encouraging me to participate and assist in the SeaPerch robotics initiative. Towards the end of my high school experience, I had a meeting to discuss my future with Mr. Bishop and he encouraged me to go the computer science and graphic design route because I had an interest in becoming a video game designer.

You worked alongside the NOVA SySTEMic team. Describe your experience:

I have obtained a better grasp on all that goes into 3D modeling, laser cutting, and the importance of visualizing your subjects. In video games and out, visualizing what the object is you are working with and then being able to create it in 3D adds even more meaning to what you have made.

Having the opportunity to be amazed by the fabrication equipment, assist in the planning of curriculum for students, and seeing that curriculum put into action has been an extremely rewarding experience.

How has NOVA and NOVA SySTEMic equipped you in your career path?

NOVA and NOVA SySTEMic have opened my eyes to all the possibilities of the STEM world. From Disney using 3D modeling and fabrication to visualize their characters, to Marvel using Unity, a video game creation software, to add in backgrounds and special effects to their movies, it is amazing what technology can do. The STEM field is ever expanding and NOVA and NOVA SySTEMic have done an amazing job connecting their students to the STEM workforce and all that STEM can do for them.

How have you balanced work needs will pursuing your education?

Working at NOVA has been a significant help. The one saying I have heard over and over in every department, even those I have not worked closely with, is education comes first. If I need a day to focus on my schoolwork, NOVA is always able to accommodate and ensure I can get my work done.

What excites you about the gaming industry?

With the innovations in technology, I am extremely excited to see what comes next. In my research for my degree, I have found that doctors are using virtual reality tech to train and perform surgeries. It adds an additional layer of health safety by not requiring someone to be directly in the room and allows for even more accuracy than before. Robots, technology, and specifically video games are the future. While video games have a stigma of being dangerous, what the technology that goes into video games can do is astonishing and even life saving for some!

You recently secured a new job at Bethesda Softworks – Congratulations! How were you were able to secure the opportunity?

I have always said since I was in high school was, I am going to work for Bethesda Softworks, a AAA game studio. When searching for full-time positions, I saw they were looking for entry-level game testers and thought while I do not have the exact experience they want, I enjoy their games and the video game community so I would give it a shot. When they called back and were giving me the opportunity to work for them, I could not say no!

What are your ultimate career goals?

My ultimate career goal would be to get into a AAA company, Bethesda Softworks or otherwise, and become a game developer. What is nice about being a tester is I get to work with all the departments to share my findings on issues that could arise for other players. Hearing and seeing the experiences of those in the game field currently, game development suits what I see for myself in the future.

Are there any professors or mentors who you want to recognize along your journey?

Mr. Bishop encouraged me to get into the STEM field. While I had an interest in game design, I do not think I would have gone further into pursuing that field had I not taken his engineering classes and learning all that computer science and computer engineering has to offer.

I also want to recognize and thank Carolee Cawthon, the NOVA Manassas IT Manager, for sharing her knowledge, time, and care over the years while working for the college. I was always willing to learn, and she was willing to teach, and I appreciate my time with her and the NOVA IT team.

How does your life in the professional world differ from life as a NOVA student? What are the expectations?

One of the most rewarding parts about life in the professional setting is the ability to collaborate with industry professionals and learn from their experiences. In an educational setting you have a disconnect from your peers and have temporary teams with little emotional connection towards assisting each other’s goals. In the professional setting you are all working towards a common goal but also collaborate to assist in each other’s personal goals and always strive for the best for one another.

What is your experience as a woman/Latina in the tech fields? What further steps for equality would you like to see in general in technology fields?

The Latino community in the STEM field is very small and comes with many hurdles to finishing your degree. To start there is a strong language barrier between professor and student. While a professor intends to teach, often they do not take into a student’s background, upbringing, and how they were previously taught. Latino communities are very hands on, constant high-fives, hugs, words of encouragement, and even using food to encourage and collaborate amongst peers. Whether being homeschooled or in a public setting, many teachers supported their students by performing this action, but in a university setting, many professors are hands off, often providing a textbook definition.

Additionally, since a STEM degree is a very tough but financially worthwhile degree, much of the Latino community struggles to get by daily, let alone pay for schooling. Latino families send their children to school to get these IT and computer related degrees in hopes of them making a lot of money one day but soon realize it is near impossible to financially support their children’s dreams. The Latino community still has the mindset of keeping the women home or working in jobs that primarily focus on “womanly duties” as one might call them.

Being a Latina woman in STEM, I want to encourage and be an example for the Latino community. There are many programs and scholarships that encourage the Latina community. If there is something you set out for and dream about, NOVA and our NOVA SySTEMic team are always willing to help, much like they have done for me during my years of schooling and after.

What would you say to current NOVA IET students who would like to follow your example? What should they do and what should they expect?

Computer science is a difficult field to fully grasp and get in to. While some go into computer science with the intention of getting a lot of money, make sure you enjoy what you are doing, have fun along the way, and really grasp the information. Understanding is always the first step so ask for clarification as needed but look at some topics like a puzzle to solve.

 

Employee Spotlight, NOVA IET

Meet Our New IET Faculty

Welcome to our 6 new full-time IET faculty members for Fall 2022

NOVA IET is pleased to announce our new faculty team members: Ronnie Dasgupta, Aresgul Cuhader, Mike Hon, Abid Mahmoud, Bryce Summers, and Farzan Soroushi. Bios below:

Ronnie Dasgupta

Ronnie Dasgupta brings over 15 years of experience in Electrical Engineering and Control Systems to Northern Virginia Community College. He has transitioned from Control Systems to Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science.  Before joining NVCC, Ronnie founded a Tech Work Force Development company and contracted out with various academic institutions in the DC-Maryland-Virginia Regions. His objective was to coordinate industry and academia so that technical job training and employment placement are streamlined. Prior to his entrepreneurial venture, he worked as an engineer for the defense industry and has experience in intellectual property.

Ronnie holds multiple certifications in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cornell University. He also has an industrial FE Certification from South Carolina State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. He obtained his MS in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, MS in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University, BS in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University, and BS in Physics from College of Charleston.

Ronnie is Honorably Discharged from the US Marine Corps Reserves. During his free time, he enjoys competitive tennis and cross-fit.

Aresgul Cuhader

Dr Aysegul Cuhadar received her Doctor of Philosophy in Electronic Systems Engineering from the University of Essex, UK. She has extensive subject matter expertise in data science, machine learning, computer vision and high-performance computing, and has published several papers on these fields. She was a full-time faculty of computer engineering at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses in the department and supervising students for their research projects. She serves as an Adjunct Professor of data analytics and provides consulting services to a cybersecurity and IT company as a program manager.

Aysegul is a senior member of IEEE and volunteers as the Vice Chair of Washington section promoting both academia and practice, and managing the local section’s special award process at high school Science Fairs.

In her free time, Aysegul likes to read, hike with her dog, and travel. 

Mike Hon

Professor “Mike” Hon has worked with many law enforcement and intelligence government agencies across security domains ranging from computer forensics to completing successful white hat vulnerability exploit with over 20 years of IT experience and 16 years of teaching at NOVA, UVa, and GMU. Published in IEEE, Professor Hon focuses on practical, hands-on tools and examples to make cybersecurity practical to students. He also leads a team at a non-profit science and technology company that focuses on Cloud Security, FedRAMP, Data Forensics, and Big Data Analytics.

CISSP, CSSLP, SANS GLEG, EIT, PMP
mhon@nvcc.edu

Abid Mahmoud

Abid is a first-generation immigrant, and a proud graduate of NOVA.  He started his U.S. educational journey at NOVA in 1987 taking English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. He went on to earn two associate degrees at NOVA, one in information technology and the other in computer science, a bachelor’s degree in business and has earned two master’s degrees, one in Business and the other in Information Technology Management from Western Governor’s University.

He was offered an opportunity to work at NOVA 23 years ago as and Open Computer Lab Coordinator where he taught classes alongside working in the Computer Lab.  Prior to Coming to NOVA, Abid worked in financial centers’ IT departments.

Amid enjoys seeing his students progress and succeed in life.

Bryce Summers

Trained as a Computer Scientist and Artist, Bryce enjoys teaching programming classes, where he builds supportive learning environments, and creating art, where he tries to make abstract concepts more visible. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University and a M.S. degree in Integrated Digital Media from New York University.

Bryce has been actively involved in programming education since 2015 and joined NOVA’s Information And Engineering Technologies (IET) department as an Adjunct Professor in the Spring of 2019. At NOVA, he has taught a variety of programming courses in software design, C++, and Python. He enjoys developing authentic assessments and automatic testing programs for student written code.

Outside of his work at NOVA, Bryce has been running a private consulting practice since 2016, where he primarily solves computational geometry problems, writes compilers, and other algorithm design tasks. His clients range from individuals to large companies like Autodesk.

In his spare time, Bryce enjoys lake kayaking, hiking with a companion, watching the land roll by on long train journeys, spending time with friends and family members, creating portraits of people he cares about, building castles and dog bone sculptures out of sand, crafting theme parks in the Roller Coaster Tycoon computer game, playing his bassoon, visiting his friends who have moved throughout the country, playing the power grid board game on his birthday each, reading comics from South Korea and Japan, and reading fun books on compilers and data structures.

When blending work and play, Bryce enjoys creating illustrations related to programming and has created some comic pages over the years. His most recent story was a narrative about a buffer overflow attack where gold is stolen from a passenger on a train due to a faulty protocol.

Farzan Soroushi

Farzan has 35 years of experience in higher education teaching/administration and IT industry. He started his career as CEO/owner of a software development company focusing on development of applications for the higher education industry.

He has extensive hands-on experience in programming languages, database systems, data analytics, and software engineering. His passion is education and he takes pride in seeing students succeed in their educational and professional goals. His hobbies are walking and playing tennis. In his spare time he provides math and computer tutoring to special needs students as a volunteer in his community

Farzan has a B.S in Applied Mathematics, an M.S in Computer Science, and has completed Ph.D. requirements in Information Technology at George Mason University.

Employee Spotlight, IET Recruitment

New Employee Spotlight – Amira Alexander


Amira Alexander

Welcome, Amira Alexander!
Our new IET Recruitment and Engagement Specialist.  

A native of North Carolina, Amira obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science from NC State University with a minor in Extension Education. While there, she researched the effects of marketing strategies on children, worked with food education non-profits to provide children with culturally relevant information and spent time abroad in Costa Rica exploring food security. After obtaining her undergraduate degree, Amira began her career in education with the North Carolina State University College Advising Corps where she cultivated her belief in educational access and equity through creating college ambassador programs and building relationships with local college access organizations. For the next six years, Amira worked as a College Adviser and as an Assistant Director curating content for K12 administrators and counselors, mentoring new professionals in professional development and fostering collaboration amongst similar organizations. During her time at NC State, Amira obtained her graduate certificate in Family Life Education and Coaching and in May 2022 completed her Master’s of Youth, Family, and Community Sciences.

Having recently moved to Virginia in the summer of 2022, Amira is enjoying learning a new city, reading books from the local library, spending time with family, caring for her plant babies, perusing farmer’s markets and cooperative extension offices, and completing a FitOn barre class in her free time.

Amira can be reached at aalexander@nvcc.edu

CTE, Employee Spotlight, New Employee

Welcome Andy Chaves, NOVA SySTEMic’s New CTE Coordinator!

Andy is excited to join NOVA SySTEMic as our new CTE (Career and Technical Education) Director. Andy promotes and supports public/private partnerships through CTE programs. He served as the Chair of the National Advisory Board and Executive Committee of DECA while also serving on the Board of Directors of DECA, Inc.

Andy is a retired executive from Marriott International, Inc. where he worked for almost 31 years. He spearheaded Marriott’s youth strategies and partnership efforts supporting engagement initiatives across the globe. A graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, he has more than 35 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry.

Andy was Board Chairman of Hospitality High School of Washington, DC, A Public Charter School.  He represented Marriott as liaison to the National Urban League, UnidosUS, NBMBAA, Prospanica, NABA, NRAEF’s ProStart, AH&LA Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP) and various CTE programs and councils. He has served on the Advisory Board for career and technical program resources development with the Glencoe McGraw-Hill publisher.

Andy was also the founding President of the Montgomery County Public Schools Students Foundation for Hospitality and Restaurant Management (FHRM). As a Human Resources professional, Andy understands that investing in young people and giving back are essential for the future growth of any industry.  These public/private partnerships are what make career and technical education (CTE) programs succeed.  His greatest mentoring efforts are in raising his two children and encouraging them to become life-long learners and continuous career explorers.

Andy can be reached at machaves@nvcc.edu

Employee Spotlight, Engineering Technology, Information Technology, NOVA Awards, NOVA IET, NOVA IET Career Pathways

Staff Spotlight: Allison McElfresh is a 2022 NOVA Reward and Recognition Program Awardee

Congratulations to IET Advising’s Allison McElfresh for being a 2022 NOVA Reward and Recognition Program awardee!

The Reward and Recognition Program recognizes administrative and professional faculty, classified staff, teaching faculty, and adjunct faculty who have demonstrated outstanding contributions and exemplary performance.

Allison McElfresh is the strategic lead for advising for students in any of NOVA’s Seventeen Information and Engineering Technology associate degrees and career studies certificates. She brings 14 years of experience as an Advisor and Program Analyst at NOVA to her role.  According to Allison, “One of the greatest challenges of the advising position is finding a balance between responsive advising, where we provide support to students who contact us because they know they need help vs proactive advising, where we try to anticipate problems our IET students might encounter and then attempt to solve those problems before the student even becomes aware of them.”

Her vision is to use data more effectively when advising students and to create resources that help students more easily find the information they need regarding course selection and transfer planning.

So far, she has been able to combine Python programming and Excel to produce tracking sheets that show which students have completed which requirements for their degrees or certificates, so the IET Advisors could identify students who had completed a CSC without being aware of it, so they could be contacted to apply for graduation.  The sheets have also been useful in identifying students who had applied for graduation but forgotten to transfer classes in from another college, allowing those students to complete the transfer process in time.

Allison regularly takes IT classes at NOVA herself in order to acquire the skills to better solve advising problems.  She has been taking courses in Python Programming and Advanced Database Management, and will be working towards the new Data Analytics Specialist CSC which should be added to NOVA’s curriculum sometime in 2023.

“I can’t wait to see the ways in which Machine Learning and Data Analytics can help me find creative ways to advise my students better.”  If you have any advising questions for one of the IET degree or certificate programs, you can reach Allison McElfresh and the other members of the IET Advising team at iet@nvcc.edu.

Career & Leadership Readiness Institute, Employee Spotlight, STEM Awards, STEM Education, STEM Grants, Teacher Professional Development

Staff Spotlight: Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer is a 2022 NOVA Reward and Recognition Program Awardee

Congratulations to NOVA SySTEMic’s Natasha Schuh-Nuhfer for being a 2022 NOVA Reward and Recognition Program awardee!

The Reward and Recognition Program recognizes administrative and professional faculty, classified staff, teaching faculty, and adjunct faculty who have demonstrated outstanding contributions and exemplary performance.

Natasha serves as the STEM Education Coordinator for the Manassas Campus and leads SySTEMic’s K-12 STEM teacher professional development efforts. She has been instrumental to the success of SySTEMic programs, stepping in to provide support wherever needed. Last summer, Natasha supervised the virtual cybersecurity STEM camps and taught the final Introduction to Cybersecurity camp when camp instructors had to return to their districts for the semester and were no longer available.

With COVID concerns going into the new school year, Natasha spearheaded the design of virtual professional development opportunities for STEM educators to learn to program with the BBC micro:bit, explore cyber and technology innovations, and understand the nuances of makerspace machines and software.

In January, Natasha eagerly stepped in to help support NOVA’s Career and Leadership Readiness Institute while also managing her teacher professional development responsibilities, eventually taking over the program in March and bringing it to its completion in mid-April.

Natasha can now be found supporting NOVA-awarded National Science Foundation grants focused on teacher professional development.

Thank you, Natasha, for your impact on the NOVA community and the region’s educators!