June's Featured Alumnus: Thomas Mifflin '13

Written by Regina Ender 

With his thirst for knowledge and his knack for problem-solving, choosing to study computer science at APU was a natural fit for Thomas Mifflin. While going to APU, he was encouraged to find unique solutions and remain open-minded in his field, preparing him well for his career after graduating. Now, he is working as a software engineer at The Boeing Company and has just completed his master’s degree in computer science from Syracuse University.

It has been five years since Mifflin earned his undergraduate degree, and though he feels like he’s just coming into his career, he fits in well with his team and enjoys his work. He encourages others to make the most of their jobs, using whatever position they hold and wherever they work to thrive through diligence and personal motivation.

APU was most helpful in preparing Mifflin for his career by exposing him to different concepts and ideas from professors and classmates. This spirit of collaboration has carried into his career, and he emphasized the importance of being flexible and working well with colleagues in order to get the most out of his job. He especially benefited from APU’s individualized attention through small class sizes and direct access to professors.

Mifflin left his legacy at APU by creating a web application and database for the annual Humans vs Zombies game. He worked alongside Communiversity and the game’s administration to develop the app, create a prototype, and test it. The project took a summer and much of the fall to get ready for game time in the spring, and even after the launch, he still enjoyed tinkering with the app to further improve it. The hefty project was a great résumé builder for Mifflin, and he partially attributes his success with the app as one of the factors that helped him land his job.

When he isn’t at work, Mifflin volunteers for DECA, a not-for-profit career and technical student organization for high school students that he used to be involved in as a student. The organization hosts competitions for projects and exams for which Mifflin assists in judging and coordinating.

Words of Wisdom: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions and leave your ego at the door. Information sharing is the basis of society and humans are designed to work in groups to further the sustainability of the group. Going at a project or assignment as a lone wolf and hiding away in your room is unsustainable. You will have to work with others when you enter the workforce, and college is a great opportunity to learn how to personally interact with teammates or professors to improve your skills.”

 

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Note: This information is current for the 2023-24 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.