Javier Mendez, a junior at SC&I, has been accepted into the iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) hosted by  the University of Pittsburgh. Mendez was one of only 25 students from across the nation to be selected for this year’s program.

Mendez, who hopes to become either a web developer, data security supervisor, or work in back-end development, said, “The workshops of different computing languages at i3 will help me prepare for fields like this.” He predicts that the coursework at iSchool will be difficult, but the knowledge he will gain will be incredibly rewarding.

According to the website of the iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3), the program stretches over two summers, and it is  “undergraduate research and leadership development program that prepares students from underrepresented populations for graduate study and careers in the information sciences.”

Mendez first learned about iSchool from his mentor, Assistant Professor of Library and Information Science Charles Senteio. Mendez then attended an information session held at SC&I and sent in his application soon after.

“Jav represents the ideal student that the i3 program is designed to nurture,” Senteio told SC&I. “i3 prepares bright students interested in studying information science to help make a positive impact on the world around them. i3 will help him cultivate his talents to realize his considerable potential to participate in influencing change.”

Mendez said he cannot wait for what the program has in store for him. “I am most excited about expanding my knowledge of information sciences, networking with individuals in this field, and exploring the city of Pittsburgh on my free time!”

Mendez told SC&I that his passion for Information Sciences was first realized during his journey to find a focus for his undergraduate studies.

“Coming into Rutgers University New Brunswick was an incredibly overwhelming experience which guided me to study what I currently knew. At that time, I was highly involved with being behind the scenes working at iTV Studio, shooting and editing videos, etc. so I decided to start studying Journalism and Media Studies,” Mendez said. “After a year, I realized that this field was not for me which gave me the motivation to start studying information sciences here at Rutgers.”

Mendez said not only is he happy he decided to major in ITI, but his “plans for the future are to do graduate with a Masters of Information in either Data Science or Web Development in the 4 + 1 program here at Rutgers University with the School of Communication and Information.”

From that moment, SC&I fostered his passion with coursework. Mendez told SC&I that the most valuable class he has taken in his major is Object Orientation.

“Through this course, I have learned more about any computer language than any other course combined and that is accredited to Part-Time Lecturer Scott McClymont through his hands-on style of teaching.”