Graduating Senior Spotlight: Michael Dunn

What brought you to the University of Minnesota and how did you end up choosing your major?

I transferred to the University of Minnesota because I wanted a large school with lots of options for classes, and I chose to study computer science because of my interest in technology and programming. 

Which CLA class or professor has had the biggest impact on you? Why?

Professor Nathaniel Mills helped me become a better writer. Before taking a class from him, I was not as confident in my abilities to write a comprehensive essay or build a convincing literary analysis. His social and political awareness made ENGL 3006W - Survey of American Literatures and Cultures II, which I took from him, refreshing and informative. 

What course would you recommend for other students in your major? And for students outside of your major, what course would be a good introduction to what you study?

The class I would recommend to other students in my major would be CSCI5123 - Recommender Systems. Although the course content is difficult and requires strong problem-solving skills, the ideas found in recommender systems are embedded in nearly all of the technology we use today.

Tell us about a class you still think a lot about.

A class I still think a lot about is CSCI 3081W - Program Design and Development. Creating a program that simulated drone package delivery at the University of Minnesota was rewarding and taught me a lot about software design and development. Plus, my professor, Shonal Gangopadhyay, made the lectures extremely enjoyable and entertaining while sharing real stories from the industry.

What has been your favorite part of your experience with your department(s) and within your major(s) and minor(s)?

My favorite part about my major has been finding out how the applications that I use every day function.

What is one aspect of your major or minor that has surprised you? What do you wish more people understood about what you study?

Something about my major that surprised me was how in-depth the coursework could be.

Which of the core career competencies do you think will help you the most in your future career?

The core career competency that I think will help most in my future career is Teamwork and Leadership. Something that I have learned about software engineering, especially in agile workflows, is the importance of working as a team and communicating effectively with others. 

What's next for you? What are your post-graduation plans?

I hope to find a job working within software engineering.

Is there an app you hate but use anyways?

Duo Mobile. I understand why we need it, but it's definitely inconvenient. 

If you could be any member on a TV show, who would you be?

Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother.