The College of Computing & Informatics Celebrates the Class of 2017

On Tuesday, June 13, the College of Computing & Informatics (CCI) graduated its third class of more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students at Drexel University’s Commencement Ceremonies, held in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

CCI also hosted a College commencement ceremony on June 12 in the Daskalakis Athletic Center where graduates were individually recognized. Click here to watch the ceremony online.

Students participating in this year’s Commencement graduated with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, software engineering, information systems, information technology and computing & security technology; and master’s degrees in library and information science, computer science, health informatics, information systems and software engineering.

“You are graduating at a golden time for information and technology, a time some call the Second Machine Age or the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Dean and Isaac L. Auerbach Professor Yi Deng, PhD said in his opening remarks. “Every industry is becoming an IT industry, and technology is rapidly transforming every aspect of our lives.”

Students graduating with honors through the Pennoni Honors College, Beta Phi Mu and Upsilon Pi Epsilon were recognized. Additionally, computing & security technology graduate Dominic Adam Waters ‘17 was presented with a certificate for achieving a 4.0 grade point average.

Daniel Ziegler ’17, graduating cum laude and honors with distinction from the Pennoni Honors College with a BS in computer science, addressed the Class of 2017. Ziegler is the president and founder of DUCSTeach, a student-led team of volunteers from Drexel University who provide technical assistance to local schools and community groups in need. He has served as an undergraduate peer mentor and a teaching assistant for computer science courses at the College. He is a member of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity. Following graduation, Ziegler will be working at Turn 14 Distribution, a wholesale performance auto parts distributor located in Horsham, PA. Ziegler is also the son of two Drexel alumni: Terry Ziegler, BS electrical engineering ’86 and Linda Ziegler, BS computer science ’86 who, like her son, was taught by Professor Jeffrey Popyack, PhD.

Walter Straub '65, '70, a Drexel alum and former trustee and co-founder and CEO of computer and information security company Rainbow Technologies, served as the keynote speaker for the CCI Commencement ceremony. Straub is a pioneer in the field of computer and information security. He was chairman of the board, CEO and president of Rainbow from 1984 until March 2004, when Rainbow merged with SafeNet, Inc., a public information security company. Straub received a BS in electrical engineering and an MS in finance from Drexel.

Nine PhD students were hooded during the June 12 ceremony where they graduated from the College’s doctoral programs information studies and in computer science.

For more information about Commencement, please visit drexel.edu/commencement