Bronco Spotlight: Sandino Vargas Pérez
Assistant Professor (tenure-track) of Computer Science at Kalamazoo College
I am a tenure-track assistant professor in the department of computer science in Kalamazoo College. I'm in charge of creating courses to enrich the CS curriculum, teach other courses, research and so on.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?
The most rewarding part about my job is being able to effectively explain computer science concepts in a way that students can understand, enjoy, and learn. The most challenging part is coming up with methods to promote inclusion and diversity in my field, so underrepresented minorities can find an environment that facilitates and enriches the learning experience.
Which of your skills had the biggest impact on your success?
The skills I gathered while doing my Ph.D. I participated in an activity promoted by the Graduate College and the Graduate Student Association called Three Minutes Thesis, in which you have to explain all your research in 3 minutes in a way that everybody in the room (generally from different areas of study) can understand. By doing this I learned how to explain things that are complicated. Also my advisor always encouraged me to give presentations of my topics to diverse audiences with no computer science knowledge, which also contributed to my desire to teach.
What advice do you have for students looking for their career after college?
Explore all the possibilities out there, and choose whatever you feel passionate about. Sometimes, high paying jobs that suck the life out of you are not fun, but jobs you love doing are worth pursuing.