When Sahil Kamboj joined the Division of Information Resources & Technology (IRT) as a student worker in 2022, he wanted more than a part-time job. He wanted real-world experience that could help him launch a career in cybersecurity. He got it.
Two years later, Kamboj, a first-generation international student pursuing dual degrees in Computer Science and Computing & Informatics, now works with the team that monitors and responds to cyber threats. That experience helped him land a coveted spot as a one-year IT Security intern at Subaru of America this year.
His journey with IRT “has been defined by continuous learning, hands-on experience, and meaningful mentorship,” said Kamboj, crediting the program with helping him to “grow not only as a student, but also as a young cybersecurity professional.”
Since its official launch in FY2023, IRT’s student worker program has grown into one of the university’s most impactful talent development pipelines, expanding from 71 to 129 students who logged nearly 70,000 hours of hands-on experience during the last year alone. Those hours aren’t spent on busy work; they are spent supporting and improving our digital ecosystem to propel the university forward. Students shadow network and software engineers, provision hardware, and develop custom code and reports alongside IT professionals
This direct, hands-on work has a tangible impact on IRT’s operations. For instance, student-led teams manage the walk-in IT support desk in Memorial Hall, prepare and distribute laptops and other technology assets and help maintain network equipment across all campuses.
“Never once are you treated like you are a student worker. You are treated like a full-time worker,” said Zander Pino, a 21-year-old Management Information Systems major from Berlin. “You’re part of the team.”
That sense of belonging was intentional, said Marc Fleischner, Senior Director of Technology Services, who designed the program’s structure with Senior Vice Chancellor and CIO Dr. Mira Lalovic-Hand. “This program isn’t just about adding a line to your resume, though it provides that too,” Fleischner said. “It’s a safe space to learn the technical, interpersonal and communication skills that students need to thrive in any career.”
Melissa Hirst, who graduated from Rowan in 2021 and is now the Director of Financial Systems at Hard Rock Digital, said she got just that during her time with IRT. Hirst worked with teams in IRT that were upgrading and provisioning computers on campus and managing technology assets. She also supported larger IT projects. That experience led to an internship at Hard Rock Casino, which turned into a full-time job offer.
In addition to the technical skills she gained, Hirst, 25, of Mays Landing, said she “also learned how to work with other people and how to explain technical things to non-technical people. That helped prepare me for working post-college because you experience that everywhere.”
Carl Juste also believes the soft skills he is learning as a student worker in IRT are positioning him well for his post-college career. The 21-year-old senior, who oversees a team of student workers responsible for managing and maintaining technology assets on campus, said his experience has taught him valuable customer service skills, including how to deescalate tense situations.
Juste, a cybersecurity major, also said he has learned how to work in a team environment, including “going the extra mile for your coworkers and building off each other’s ideas.”
It’s that spirit of collaboration and collegiality that prepares students for their first job after Rowan.
“This program is more than a paycheck for our students and more than sets of extra hands for our staff,” said Lalovic-Hand. “It’s an investment in Rowan’s future: one that strengthens our IT services today while preparing the technology leaders of tomorrow.”