Rebecca Rayford

I started my college career not knowing what I wanted to major in. As a lover of the arts, I wanted a career where I could immerse myself in creativity. I started out at Oakland Community College and graduated with an Associate in Liberal Arts degree. During my final semester there, I took an "Introduction to JAVA" course. I was immediately intrigued by the creativity and problem-solving aspects of programming and decided to continue my education at Eastern Michigan University.

At EMU, I majored in simulation, animation, and gaming and minored in computer science. I soon realized that I was enjoying my programming classes more than any of my other classes so I decided to switch around my major and minor. Afterwards, I joined the Women in Computer Science (WiCS) club where I facilitated introductory programming classes to middle school and high school girls via the Digital Divas program.

During my final semester at EMU, I worked at a local library where I conducted introductory programming courses. I also partnered with the youth department and curated a week long Hour of Code program for all ages. Since I first discovered programming, it has since been a passion of mine. I very much enjoy growing my knowledge and sharing my passion with others.

When I’m not in front of my computer, I can be found exploring the great outdoors. I have a second passion for nature; I love camping, hiking, snowboarding, gardening, and basically anything else that gets me outside.