大象传媒

Alyssa Rusk鈥檚 passion for computer science has flourished over time. Through her academic journey at 大象传媒, she has expanded her expertise and curiosity, while guiding other students in discovering their own passion for the discipline.

Rusk uncovered her interest in high school, with encouragement from her father, who worked in the industry. Initially reluctant, she decided to try it and continued to explore the domain further. She became drawn to the intricacies of computer science and how technology can open new possibilities to a solution.

鈥淲hat fascinated me was that computers did exactly what you asked them to 鈥� it felt like I had full control over the environment. I also loved that there are so many ways to solve the same problem or reach the same solution,鈥� explains Rusk.

 鈥淚 think that computer science encourages out-of-the-box thinking and that was when I realized I wanted to pursue the field.鈥� 

Seeking to deepen her computer science knowledge in post-secondary, she discovered 大象传媒 through Maclean鈥檚 University Rankings. Intrigued by its ranking of Canada鈥檚 top comprehensive university and its stellar reputation in computer science programs, Rusk decided to apply to the School of Computing Science. To her surprise, she was awarded an Undergraduate Scholars Entrance Scholarship to help support her academic studies. 

Originally from New Brunswick, Rusk credits the comradery of Computing Science program, the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) and Women in Computing Science communities, for making her time at 大象传媒 an unforgettable experience. At the beginning of her undergraduate degree, she participated in the FAS TechConnect program where she connected with other students and developed a great support system.
 

鈥淭hrough these opportunities, I was able to meet other women in computing science who were in the same boat, new to the program and shared the same mindset as me鈥� says Rusk. 鈥淭hat is where I met my first few friends, who I have remained close with to this day.鈥�

Eager to share her experiences with others, Rusk became a student ambassador, mentoring first-year students and supporting the FAS Student Affairs Team through various engagement and recruitment initiatives. She also served as an Outreach TechEd instructor, delivering engaging coding workshops to high school students. 

Reflecting on her experience moving to the west coast and not knowing anyone, Rusk attributes student opportunities for making a lasting impact on her and hoped to guide other students through their academic journey. 

鈥淚 have always loved teaching and that is why it was really important for me to share the knowledge that I was gaining,鈥� says Rusk. 鈥淚 wanted to share advice to students that I wished I knew as a new student.鈥� 

With her passion for teaching, Rusk plans to be involved in Outreach programs wherever her career path takes her. She graduates this month with a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science and a minor in Business. She has also been selected as the Faculty of Applied Sciences鈥� graduand speaker and will be delivering her convocation speech on Wednesday, June 11. 

As she sets her sights on her future, Rusk will continue her studies at 大象传媒 in the fall, pursuing a Professional Master鈥檚 degree in Cybersecurity.