Cherise McMahon, a 2021 computer science graduate, believes Rose-Hulman did a phenomenal job of preparing her for a fast-paced work environment and helped her gain a foundation for software design knowledge.  

McMahon works as a software engineer for ICR, Inc., in the cyber-tool development side of government work, working alongside engineers skilled in security in hacking. Her work has been to build the software that those engineers use. 

At ICR, Inc., McMahon works primarily in Python programming language and spent her first few years doing framework development. ICR, Inc. has a Python library paired with a command line interface that allows cyber developers to have a standard base to start developing from and allows cyber operators to have a consistent user experience.  

“I now use the framework and write code that orchestrates one of our hardware devices,” said McMahon. “I still write in Python, and I primarily help with software design and the UX for how to interface with the hardware.”

She believes Rose did an outstanding job of not only helping her establish a base of knowledge, but for giving her the skills she needed to problem solve and think critically.  

“Rose trains your problem solving skills to be adaptable,” she said. “Thanks to Rose, I almost always have some semblance of understanding when doing something new. The Computer Science program gives such a phenomenal foundation.” 

Her main piece of advice for new Computer Science students: always to take the networking and software-design principles classes. 

“I work with a lot of Rose grads, and we often joke that we have used every engineering class we've ever taken while working,” said McMahon.