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Brian Nelson

Brian Nelson

WWF

Career Roadmap

Brian's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Technology, and Problem Solving

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Day In The Life

Jr. Network Engineer

I manage the networking infrastructure and system administration.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

    Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

    Morgan State University

  • Graduate Degree

    Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance

    University of Maryland-University College

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Computer Network Architects:

Bachelor's Degree: Network and System Administration/Administrator

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Started off in college as one major and lost scholarships (due to not being focused in school).

  • 2.

    Changed majors (Electrical Engineering to Information Science and Systems).

  • 3.

    Multiple deaths in my immediate family.

  • 4.

    Graduated Undergrad with a 3.2, beginning Grad program at UMUC.

  • 5.

    Graduated from UMUC with my Fiancee.

  • 6.

    Chose a job based on title and money, and not job role.

  • 7.

    Got a job I love!

  • 8.

    Became a CCNA.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Teachers:

    That I should go where the money is and get into software development.

  • How I responded:

    Do what you love! Since I was younger, I have always been very interested in hardware. My senior year at Morgan State University, I stumbled on CompTIA certifications. The A+ cert. seemed more inline with what I wanted to do, versus what I was being taught (primarily HTML, .Net, and SQL). I took a chance and got my A+, and then followed the certification rabbit hole (Net+, Sec+, CCNA). I couldn't be happier!