Rumman Shahzad is an S-STEM Scholar at Central Connecticut State University. In this S-STEM Scholar Spotlight, Rumman shares where he sees himself within the next 10 years and how his S-STEM program and mentors have supported him along his journey.
Rumman presenting robotics security research to classmates at CCSU’s University Research and Career Achievement Day (URCAD) ’25 (Credit: Central Connecticut State University).
In the next 5-10 years, I see myself accomplishing various professional and personal goals. I aim to be working in software engineering with a focus on AI, robotics automation, and the broader scope of Industry 4.0. My long-term vision is to become a senior or principal software engineer or product leader at a high-impact company. I’ve even explored mobile app development with the Apple Developer Program; who knows, I might pivot to building apps and providing services for the general public! I want to build solutions that serve humanity and leave behind a lasting legacy. Outside of my career, I see myself getting married, settling down, starting a family, and traveling the world.
I would’ve never gotten here without support from the S-STEM program. The biggest blessing is the financial support, allowing me to focus on my education and career without burdens of tuition. Overcoming this obstacle paved a way for me to pursue a Master’s degree in Software Engineering through an accelerated program, which also led to the opportunity to work as a lab assistant under Dr. Haoyu Wang in our campus robotics lab. My focus in the lab is on software engineering for robotics and AI. I am product owner for various robotics software projects in the lab, collaborating with local manufacturing industry for R&D and undergraduate computer science Scrum-based senior project teams for mentorship. The tech stack and soft skills I am acquiring from this experience are the most valuable I’ve gained in my education so far.
Without the S-STEM Scholars program I would definitely not be the same person I am today. I look forward to seeing what the future holds!
I would like to dedicate this spotlight to Mr. Matthew Adams (my AP Computer Science A teacher) for introducing me to Java programming when I was in 10th grade and inspiring me to be where I am today.
Connect with Rumman on LinkedIn.
The S-STEM Scholar Spotlight series shares stories, builds community, and highlights students and alumni and their S-STEM programs. Learn more and submit your spotlight today.
