G O L D
Visit with a graduate of the last decade

As an “Air Force brat,” she moved around a lot. But once she came to Columbia, Ronni Wilkinson decided to stay. Today she works for the College of Engineering and Computing as the director of IT Services and as the network manager. She also teaches a course in computer crime and forensics.

With a BS in mathematics (’94), a BS in computer science (’97), and an MS in computer engineering (’02) – all from Carolina – Wilkinson is no stranger to computers. But she began as a double major in math and music. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do with math,” she said. “I just thought it was cool.”

About halfway through her undergraduate studies, however, she took a few courses in computer science, and her future vocation began to take shape. She completed her math studies, but dropped the music.

Wilkinson feels at home at Carolina. “I just love the university community here because it is a community,” she said. And with all of the ongoing research in her field, she always finds something new and interesting to do. “I think Carolina is a great place to go to school, to work, to teach,” she said. “I just love it here.”