Computer Science Alumna

Shamsi Moussavi

	Position:	Associate Professor
	Company Name:	Massachusetts Bay Community College
	Industry Sector:	Education

What she does

Currently Shamsi teaches Computer Science courses such as: Java Programming, Computer and Network Security, Web Page Development at Massachusetts Bay Community College. At times, she takes consulting jobs related to the areas of database, software customization and requirement gathering.

Computer Science on the Job

Of course, teaching CS requires thinking, analyzing, describing, and questioning CS topics every day. She has initiated a programming club at college and works with students outside the class on programming exercises. In her previous job as software designer and developer, CS related thoughts on software projects were in her mind while sleeping! Have you had the experience of seeing a software problem, or hearing about one, and had your mind start creating an algorithm for it? Once a computer scientist, always a computer scientist!

Background

Shamsi graduated from Rhode Island College in August of 1991. She continued her graduate studies at Brown University and received her Masters degree in Computer Science from Brown in 1994. For the next 10 years, she worked as software developer, software designer, software project manager, and member of technical staff at a number of companies. In 2004, she left her industry job at Verizon to teach. During those years, she was involved in many types of projects, such as GUI development, software redesign, Web based software development, R&D projects on wireless communication and research on data security using autonomous agents.

Advice for Students

• Rhode Island College, especially its faculty, provides an excellent education to students. It is your responsibility to take full advantage of it.
• Learn the computer science topics to know them; not just for the grade you want to get. You will appreciate that hard work later on the job.
• Question the reasoning and analysis of everything you learn in CS. That is how you learn the material in depth.
• Find your own way in solving problems. It is much easier now with a lot of help on the Web. Don't rely on someone else to help you find the algorithm you are trying to come up with.
• Aim high. You can get anywhere with a RIC degree if you set your goals and try hard.