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

How 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 CIOand Director KerryGoode,

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 CentralUniversity(NCCU), a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) right here in Durham, has long been one of the internship program's key partners.

Meet Technology Solutions' Newest Intern

DayShawn Singletary (pictured right) 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 oneofthe fastest-growingjobmarkets inthenation.

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 onlyUniversityofNorth Carolinasystemschoolto 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-artcyber securitylab 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 fieldthathas historically marginalizedpeopleofcolor.'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 CityofDurham's Racial Equity Mission Statement, including through our partnership with NCCU.

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