"ATLAS allowed me to discover and flourish in my interests of user interface and user experience design and front-end development. I finally felt IÌýfound a place where all my passions and curiosities could collide."

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Cassandra Goodby

Name: Cassandra Goodby
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Program: MS CTD Creative Technologies +ÌýDesign
Advisor: Ruscha CohenÌý

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My Path to Engineering

I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, and I was always passionate about STEM. I’ve always been curious, especially when it came to technology. My mother says I would always ask the most ridiculous questions of how things worked. From the internet to microwaves, I had to know how these things functioned. I also had a love for design, but I was never sure how to bridge these two passions.

While an undergraduate student,ÌýI found the ATLAS program in CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ'sÌýcollege of engineering,Ìýand I finally felt IÌýfound a place where all my passions and curiosities could collide. ATLAS allowed me to discover and flourish in my interests of user interface and user experience design and front-end development.

As anÌýundergraduateÌýin the ATLAS program, I felt like there was so much more I could learn and do at CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ. As graduation approached, I was offered a research fellowship at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as part of their professional research experience program. I immediately knew I wanted to continue my education as part of the program. I am now studying Creative Technology +ÌýDesign, and I am absolutely in love with my field of study. I am constantly inspired by the innovation and creativity in ATLAS and the college of engineering as well asÌýCU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ as a whole. I am also excited to continue to explore the intersection of design and engineering while studying in this program.

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Why CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ?

CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ is at the forefront of technology and innovation, and I am surrounded by people that make ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ a technology hub.ÌýÌýDuring my undergraduate studies, I was able to get an internship working as a NIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)Ìýfellow, whereÌýI was able to combine what I learned in the classroom with real-world applications. I work in the public safety research division at NIST, where IÌýexperience hands-on how technology and innovation have a real-world impact on public safety professionals, and later, the public itself. I decided to attendÌýCU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ because of the uniqueness of the program that ATLAS offers; I was inspired by my instructors'Ìýundying curiosity and discovery as well asÌýtrue passion for the importance of interdisciplinary innovation. As an individual who has never fit into one box,ÌýI felt perfectly at home at the ATLAS Institute.

CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ has given me opportunities I would have never dreamed of while being surrounded by beautiful ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, Colorado. Being surrounded by the amazing people in the university and beyond has allowed me to constantly learn and evolve.

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