TS Internship Program

How Technology Solutions’ Partnership with NCCU is Building a More Inclusive IT Workforce

 

NCCU-1How Technology Solutions’ Partnership with NCCU is Building a More Inclusive IT Workforce

Writer: Damien Prout, Communication and Content Analyst

For the past eight years, under the leadership of CIO and Director Kerry Goode, the City of Durham’s Technology Solutions Department has offered four six- month paid internship opportunities to students at local colleges and universities. These internships provide students with hands-on experience in a wide spectrum of IT disciplines such as computer hardware, software engineering, cyber security, and data analytic services.

For many reasons, North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) right here in Durham, has long been one of the internship program’s key partners.

 

DAYSHAWN SINGLETARY-1Meet Technology Solutions’ Newest Intern

DayShawn Singletary (pictured left) is just one of the many current and former NCCU students to intern with Durham’s Technology Solutions Department. As an intern with the TS Cyber Security Division, DayShawn has had the unique opportunity to learn more about the increasingly high-demand field of cyber security in a real-life setting.

A Brooklyn, NY native, DayShawn said he chose to attend school in Durham “because of the diverse culture of the city.” He was also impressed with the friendly staff and students at NCCU. DayShawn seeks to complete his degree at NCCU and remain in the Durham area to pursue employment opportunities.

Fortunately for DayShawn, there’s no shortage of IT job opportunities here in the Triangle – and with his newly gained experience in cyber security, he'll be well-qualified to join one of the fastest-growing job markets in the nation.

 

Creating a More Connected, Engaged & Diverse Community

Technology Solutions’ internship program has been a huge success, but the department’s partnership with NCCU doesn’t stop there.   As a member of the NCCU IT Advisory Council, Kerry Goode has also been involved in several racial equity-focused initiatives at the university, including the designation of NCCU as the only University of North Carolina system school to offer a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology with concentrations in cyber security and data analytics. The Advisory Council also worked to help secure a new $300,000 state-of-the-art cyber security lab on NCCU’s campus.

Through these efforts, NCCU students like DayShawn now have access to training, equipment, and resources that students at some of the country’s most prestigious technology schools could only dream of, creating competitive job opportunities in a field that has historically marginalized people of color.

“One of our main goals in Technology Solutions is to foster a more connected, engaged, and diverse community,” said Kerry Goode.  “We are proud of the strides we are making to align with the City of Durham’s Racial Equity Mission Statement, including through our partnership with NCCU.