Chilton Tolliver graduated from Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in information science and technology.
What are your plans after graduation?
To land a position for a great start to my career in technology — whether it is in software, development, information technology or cybersecurity — that is lucrative with a high ceiling of career growth. (I want to) obtain a lot of valuable skills that will contribute greatly to someone’s organization and my career growth, setting myself up for a great, lifelong career that will allow me to accomplish all of my goals.
Who was your favorite professor and why?
All of the staff and professors in the computer science department.
What is one of your favorite Mercer memories?
Having the opportunity to learn and obtain a great education, meeting new people of different backgrounds, and creating lifelong relationships with my peers and professors every day.
What was your favorite class and why?
CYS 305 (security experimentation). I loved the hands-on labs and being able to hack ethically in cybersecurity and our class discussions and cool projects.
How do you plan on changing the world?
Protecting users data from cyber criminals or developing software tools that makes life easier for citizens as technology continues to grow.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Get an internship as early as possible, like summer after freshman year, and get as much real world, hands-on experience in the career field relating to your degree as possible, so you are competitive and have a lot of skills and knowledge by the time you are graduating. For technology students, get as many certifications and (work in the) home lab as much as possible. Also, dive deeper into topics and use free online resources to better your knowledge on topics discussed and learned in class. Lastly, learn how to code as much as possible. Don’t only do what class gives you and introduces you to!
What makes Mercer special to you?
It’s a great private institution to obtain a STEM degree. I believe it will open a lot of doors and opportunities for me in my technology career.
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