Dec. 23, 2019 — Alix Dubernard graduated this month with a bachelor’s in computer science and a minor in cybersecurity. She’s the first person in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
Originally from Mexico City, she migrated to the U.S. at age 11. And although she didn’t feel pressure to be the first in her family to achieve the university dream, making a choice about the right path to get there was a challenge.
“I did not have a passion for anything, and I struggled to find a field in which I had a deep interest,” said Dubernard.
However, her clarity was achieved when she exposed herself to different disciplines at UTSA. During a psychology course she learned about a research project that combined computer science, cognitive thinking and artificial intelligence. This intersection of disciplines piqued her interest so much that on her own time and by scouring the internet, she taught herself the computer programming language python—which is one of the fastest growing coding languages for machine learning.
“I had a passion for this that I had not felt for anything else!” said Dubernard.
But nothing worth having is ever easy, so she had to overcome some of her fears.
“Computer science is a male-dominated field and it involves a lot of math, which I was never comfortable with,” Dubernard explained. “However, I quickly discovered that I was not so bad at math and that everyone in my classes was very friendly and open.”
Then another turning point came when she was invited to join the Computer Security Association at UTSA. She didn’t know much about cybersecurity, but she started to work on security projects outside the university. Grueling hours in training allowed her to become a member of UTSA’s elite Blue Team, which took her to competitions across the country, including competing in high stakes venues such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Cyber Force competition.
“I had a lot of moments when I felt burned out and tired,” said Dubernard, who like a true pioneer of her family will now graduate magna cum laude.
Dubernard won an internship at USAA’s information security team, which then led to a full-time position after graduation.
“I believe that it was all worth it because I have learned a whole lot and had a lot of fun doing it,” she said. “It also opened up a lot of opportunities.”
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The Whataburger Resource Room at the Roadrunner Pantry has joined efforts with the campus community to put together the Move In Market! Come shop for some great items for your dorm room or apartment to get you started and set up for success.
H-E-B Student Union Ballroom (HSU 1.104-1.106,) Main CampusA Linguistics Time Capsule that was buried in 2000 will be opened and shared. It contains the predictions of UTSA linguistics students as to how the language would change by January, 2025. Students and faculty who contributed will be invited to the opening to participate in sharing their predictions and discussing how accurate some predictions were.
Denman Room (SU 2.01.28,) Main CampusHave you ever received an email invitation to publish in a journal you have never heard of with promises of lightning-fast peer-review and publication times? If so, you’ve probably heard of predatory publishing. During this workshop, participants will discuss this pervasive problem in academic publishing and how to spot the red flags through real-life examples.
Virtual (Zoom)Upon completion of this workshop, attendees will be able to: explain the history of Creative Commons, summarize the role of copyright law in the creation of Creative Commons, differentiate between different CC icons, identify the different layers and elements of CC licenses and tools, and list factors to consider when choosing a license for your project.
Virtual (Zoom)Join us for Coffee with Vets, a casual social event where veterans can come together, connect, and share camaraderie over a cup of coffee. This is a perfect opportunity to unwind, meet fellow veterans, and build community in a welcoming and relaxed environment.
Veteran Lounge (JPL 4.03.04,) John Peace Library, Main CampusStop by to ask questions or learn about how you can become involved in Wellbeing Services events and programs.
Window Lounge (SU1.02.00C,) Student Union, Main CampusArt of Wellbeing is a weekly workshop provided by Wellbeing Services! Join us as we use different art mediums each week as a way to improve our overall wellbeing!
Magnolia Room (SU2.01.30,) Student Union, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
