Q: What is the most impactful innovation you’ve implemented, and what problem did it solve?
A: Well, there have been many; so, I’ll demonstrate with two examples:
In 2000, the “dot com” boom was red hot with companies like Amazon just beginning to use the Internet, which was brand new at the time. Building the Internet infrastructure was in full bloom around the world. In Corpus Christi, the first fiber optic cabling was installed across the city, and the college’s East Campus (now called Heritage Campus) was trenched and the fiber optic cable installed. New networking equipment by Cisco Networks became the industry standard, and DMC joined the Cisco Networking Academy to offer our students the opportunity to train with industry-led curriculum and certification. The college’s Computer Science Program doubled in size and trained hundreds of students during the first five years. We still offer the Cisco Academy and produce several certified technicians annually.
More recently, the program participated in a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to create state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) curriculum. When we started offering that curriculum in 2020, DMC was the only two-year college in Texas providing AI as an option. Since then, the college has matriculated dozens of graduates from our AI Institute, many who transferred to our partnering school––Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. These graduates have produced many academic papers and presentations as well as work in the field of AI and Machine Learning.
Q: How has this innovation improved student success?
A: Both the Cisco Academy and AI Institute allow Del Mar College’s graduates to become the best trained technicians in the Coastal Bend. They’re highly sought by universities and by employers seeking workers with their in-demand knowledge and skills in this field.
Q: How has technology helped you build or strengthen partnerships with employers, schools, or other organizations, and how do these connections support the region’s workforce and economic growth?
A: Local industry and government employers look to Del Mar College and the Computer Science Program for quality technicians who are trained in the latest software and hardware The local workforce depends on DMC to provide graduates with the latest skills and knowledge to implement and maintain their information technology infrastructure. Our graduates in Programming, Networking, CyberSecurity and Geospatial Information Systems are found throughout the Coastal Bend’s industry and government workforce.
Q: Looking ahead, what advancements do you foresee impacting your area, and what new skills will DMC graduates need?
A: Boy, that’s a difficult question to answer! The past four decades have demonstrated how computers, networks and all things IT have radically changed. In 1983, 1993, 2003 or even 2013, no way could I have predicted what AI and 2023 would look like! I think we are just beginning to experience how AI and Machine Learning will impact our workforce, and some experts warn of a collapse in technology employment among the workforce due to displacement caused by AI. Other experts predict a radically better and rewarding workforce because of AI. I think the future will bring the workforce somewhere between these two predictions. There have always been losers and winners with change. What makes this AI revolution so different is how FAST things are changing.
Q: If talking to a prospective student, what are the top benefits or opportunities you’d highlight about your program or service?
A: First, Computer Science will always be an in-demand skill and career path. The IT industry is not going away … AI or not. Taking a career path in this field is lucrative and rewarding. I would also emphasize that not only is DMC’s Computer Science Program excellent, but also the college itself is a highly competent institution offering all the necessary wrap-around resources that students need to succeed.
The college has expanded its resources in comparison to 20 years ago, and I’m always amazed how much help DMC students can access beginning with their first class all the way to graduation.
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