Grim obtained the primary IST Emerging Professional Award, which acknowledges latest alumni who’re incomes notable achievements by leveraging their IST data to make a optimistic affect on the world.

Grim graduated from Penn State World Campus in 2017 with a bachelor’s diploma in IST and a minor in safety and danger evaluation. She earned her grasp’s diploma in challenge administration in 2023 and was not too long ago accepted into the University’s engineering doctoral program.

As an grownup learner who was managing a household and dealing full-time as an optician, Grim selected to pursue her training by means of Penn State World Campus, taking on-line courses from her dwelling in Winchester, Virginia. Grim was an energetic member of the World Campus group. She joined the Blue & White Society and served as vice chairman of the World Campus Tech Cub. She was named the College of IST graduation scholar marshal for her excellent educational document and distinctive journey to rework her profession.

Prior to graduating, she left her 18-year optician profession — the place she had earned state licensure and nationwide certifications — for an unpaid internship with Lockheed Martin. Grim’s internship led to a full-time place, the place she rapidly rose by means of the ranks. She has obtained a number of promotions since graduating from Penn State.

Now, as an answer prepare engineer for Leidos’s protection sector — Leidos acquired Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions enterprise section in 2016 — she makes a speciality of Agile methodologies and has organized and led software program growth groups on a number of continents. While managing a portfolio of with a $35 million funds, she makes time to mentor different rising professionals.

IST Alumni Symposium

The first annual Alumni Symposium was introduced by the College of IST Alumni Society and featured keynote audio system, breakout classes and shows by faculty management about present developments in know-how and the way forward for IST. McNeese, Grim and Tapia spoke on the occasion.

Other audio system included Corey Lee, class of 2012, safety chief know-how officer for training at Microsoft; Scott Lyons, class of 2005, CEO of Red Lion LLC; Kathleen Moore, graduate class of 2014, professor of information science on the U.S. Army War College; Colin Murphy, class of 2003, world vice chairman of buyer success and buyer assist at BMC Software; Steve Pipino, class of 2003, principal safety specialist at Salesforce; Justin Plock, class of 2003, principal options architect at Amazon Web Services; Purvi Shah, class of 2003, vice chairman of product growth at American Express; and Rick Kaplan, class of 2003, senior digital investigative analysts with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Carleen Maitland, interim affiliate dean for analysis, and doctoral college students Weijieying Ren and Jeff Schulman additionally spoke.