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From staff to student: Embracing lifelong learning

With over 163,000 new information security and system jobs expected by 2031, the Master of Science in Information Systems Management (MS-ISM) program at Arizona State University (ASU) is a launchpad for graduates to enhance their careers. 

On Friday, July 5, Enterprise Technology celebrated its first graduating cohort of 11 team members — opening opportunities to lead in various roles at ASU and beyond.

This nationally ranked 12-month program, part of the W. P. Carey School of Business, allows students to earn a master’s degree while continuing with their jobs. The program is a stepping stone into big data, cloud acceleration and technology consulting, providing the skills needed to become strategic technology professionals and leaders. 

“It’s management with an IT flair,” said Gregory Alcorn, director of information technologies services at Enterprise Technology. “It’s about mastering people skills, maximizing team performance, and creating efficient systems. It's about gaining an edge in delivering value to your end consumer.”

Alcorn was among the 2023 cohort who graduated last Friday. With a focus on cloud technologies, he said the program helped him identify how to evolve into a more supportive leader and leverage emerging technologies into his team’s workflow.

“Every day, you’re inspired,” he said. “And It wasn’t just a binary process of taking a concept from class and applying it to a specific problem — I found that it ignited new ways of thinking or tackling projects.”

Outside of class, Alcorn has a family — a wife and three kids. For him and his family, deciding to return to graduate school meant everyone had to be ready for the year-long commitment that required him to be in class twice a week and the hours needed to complete assignments. 

“It was a collective effort and every one of us had a part in reaching this milestone,” Alcorn said.  I couldn't have achieved this without their support and it’s a testament to what we can accomplish together.”

The coursework integrates real-world scenarios and cutting-edge pedagogy to empower students to apply what they learned right away or act as a springboard to develop new, innovative ideas to lead their teams into the future. 

“Throughout the program, I was able to take classroom knowledge into work the next day,” Alcorn said. 

Learn more about how Enterprise Technology helps students prepare for the modern workforce.

“The shift to strategic thinking as leaders is the big transformation,” said Dan Mazzola, the MS-ISM faculty director. “The program introduces students to the mindset of leaders. It not only enhances their abilities as employees but also prepares them to embrace more responsibility in management roles.”

The goal is to transform Enterprise Technology into a learning organization that nurtures its team members to develop and enhance their leadership skills to adapt to the evolving technology landscape. 

“This is an opportunity to empower our exceptional Enterprise Technology team members to earn a Master’s degree that bridges the gap between technology and developing leadership skills,” said John Rome, deputy CIO at Enterprise Technology and program organizer. “It's more than just an education — it’s paving the way for future leaders who are ready to innovate and steer our technological future.”

The program’s combination of theory and practice helps them to seize real-world opportunities. As the demand for tech skills continues to grow, ASU’s MS-ISM program equips future leaders with the right blend of academic and practical experience. 

Enterprise Technology covers a significant portion of course fees for team members, whether it’s for this program or other upskilling opportunities. For more information on the MS-ISM program, follow the link here.

“For me, this was about personal growth and striving to be a little better each day,” Alcorn said. “It was about learning new things, doing my job better and making a positive difference. Most importantly, it was about inspiring those I lead and learning how to support them to flourish in their own careers.”

Join us in congratulating all of the 2023 MS-ISM graduates!

  • Jorge Garcia
  • Rana Kazemnia
  • Rocco Pagano
  • Angela Papri
  • Brook Lipsitz
  • Chris Deaton
  • Don Overton
  • Douglas Nguyen
  • Ezzy Angle
  • Greg Alcorn
  • Jeff Steiner

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