For Johnson, Alfred University checked all the right boxes: a smaller campus, AACSB accreditation, and a strong engineering program. Initially interested in data analytics, he shifted toward electrical engineering while still planning to keep data as part of his studies.
“Data is like the new oil — it’s powerful, and I want to be part of shaping its future,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s immediate priority is to secure an internship or research opportunity, while his long-term vision is to gain professional experience at leading companies such as Tesla or NVIDIA before ultimately founding his own technology-focused business.
Adjusting to a smaller community has been an interesting experience for Johnson.
“Back home, I was used to big cities. Alfred is smaller, but that means you really get to know people,” he explained. One of his first encounters was joining a board games event during the welcome week, only to later discover he had been playing with the president of the Student Senate. “It showed me how approachable people are here.”
This post was inspired by an article in Alfred University News.
