From: B.S. in Computer Information Systems, 2022

To: Software Engineer at Microsoft

 

Joshua McCurry came to Davenport University with years of practical experience under his belt.

After joining the Marine Corps in 2006, McCurry completed two deployments, one to Afghanistan and one to Iraq, primarily working with electronics and missile launching systems. After leaving the military, he put that technical experience to work in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries. He even worked for a company building particle accelerators in Lansing.

But McCurry knew there was another piece he needed to take the next step in his career: a bachelor’s degree.

“A lot of Davenport alumni I knew had moved on to industries I was interested in, so it made sense to at least start the dialogue and ask, ‘Is this degree and this career path something that I’m willing to entertain and invest my time in?’” McCurry said. “‘Is this ultimately going to pay off?’”

As McCurry explored his options, Davenport stood out for both its programs and its people. Staff helped him navigate his military benefits and the credit he would receive for his experience, while the university’s computer information systems program offered a path that aligned with his career goals.

“I felt very supported in making the correct decisions that worked for me and for the classes that I wanted to take,” he said. “Davenport’s Career Services was amazing. They helped introduce me to the people I needed to speak to in order to become successful.”

That support proved especially valuable as McCurry prepared to take his career to the next level.

While at Davenport, he took advantage of networking opportunities, and one of those connections led to an introduction to a Microsoft recruiter before McCurry had even graduated.

“Before I knew it, I had three or four different interviews with Microsoft, and I was able to demonstrate my skillset. They were entirely impressed,” McCurry said.

Today, McCurry is a software engineer at Microsoft, where he has worked for nearly five years. He credits Davenport with helping to bridge the gap between what he already knew and what he needed to demonstrate in the technology industry.

“There’s a direct correlation between the information, the classes and the things I learned at Davenport that is translated over to Microsoft, and I’m still using it today,” he said.

For McCurry, earning his degree was an investment in turning years of experience into new possibilities.

“The whole process for getting into school after the military was extremely daunting,” he said. “But there were a lot of people at Davenport who helped me at least get the process started and made the transition easier.”

And ultimately, that investment paid off in a career he had been working toward.

“I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in right now if it weren’t for Davenport,” McCurry said.

 

Click here to learn about Davenport’s Credit for Prior Learning Program.