Derek Gunter is student majoring in Data Science with a minor in Applied Artificial Intelligence. He is a veteran and software developer at Y-12 National Security Complex. Derek was selected for the six-month Global Student Fellowship Program, collaborating with peers worldwide to build future-ready skills and help shape conversations on work, talent, and leadership.
What brought you to CECS?
“I didn’t know anything about CECS until I was a student at the College of Communication and Information. Then, I found out that there were data science and applied artificial intelligence programs opening up which is what I’m interested in.”
Why did you choose your major?
“I work in the IT field as a software developer at Y-12. A lot of the stuff I’m doing is related to trying to improve our understanding of where data comes from and how it’s analyzed from a more analytical perspective.”
“So data science was the perfect avenue to get into that. And then obviously, adding in artificial intelligence to get rid of the manual manipulation of having to go through data over and over again to get to a final result. Having or building an AI model to do what you want it to do, to get rid of all that, gives you more time to analyze the data on the back end.”
What is your favorite part about being a CECS student?
“The professors understand that we are being taught the basic understanding of concepts that are emerging and growing. I enjoy the fact that CECS gives you the ability to see where the future can take you with that information.”
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a CECS student, so far?
“AI is a tool, not the answer. I’ve had projects in the past where AI was used as the answer, and it was completely off topic. Without having some guidance in terms of how to use it or what context it’s being used in, you can get off kilter fairly quickly in your responses, answers, or assignments. CECS professors specifically give a lot of guidance and structure to how students should think in terms of utilizing the tools that are available.”
If you could tell other students one thing about CECS, what would it be?
“If you’re interested in anything related to emerging technology like data science, cybersecurity, AI, CECS is the place to do it because you have every opportunity possible to be successful with professors that you work with and their experience within both academia and their professional research and experience.”
“I’ve been at other universities where you don’t have that wealth of knowledge to be able to reach back to say you aren’t really understanding the concepts and ask for a way to relate it to a daily basis type of problem to make it more realistic and understandable. CECS gives you that ability.”
What do you hope to do after graduation?
“I’m planning to use my degree to further my career in the government space and get into a lot more research and AI specific stuff related to my work here.”