University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Information Technology Auditor,  Securian Financial Group
B.S. Industrial Technology – Telecommunications, '97

What was your major at UW-Stout?
My major at UW-Stout was Industrial Technology, with a concentration in Telecommunications (currently named Information Technology Management).

What do you currently do?  
I am an Information Technology Auditor with Securian Financial Group in St. Paul, Minnesota. My job is to review and evaluate “controls” over various technologies and processes. A control is any action used to manage risk and increase the likelihood that goals will be achieved.

How did you get interested in this field?
When I started my education at UW-Stout, I knew that I had a deep enjoyment of creativity and analysis, as well as an aptitude for learning technical skills. I began my career in the field of Project Management but pursued an opportunity in IT Audit, where I have found success and fulfillment in my career.

What was your favorite part about your program?
I enjoyed the diversity between the specialized IT classes and the general education courses. I am a believer that even the most creative, right-brained person can be successful in analytics and the sciences. The professors were always willing to support me and help me to identify and maximize my talents.

What did you find most challenging?
During the first year of college at UW-Stout, I found myself pulled in two directions: one direction was technology, and another direction was a desire to pursue Music Education at a different university. My friends and professors helped me to see that there is much creativity involved in technology. That “ah-ha” moment fueled my desire to remain in Industrial Technology at UW-Stout.

How did Stout help you get you where you wanted to go?
UW-Stout’s Career Services office was instrumental in helping me learn about entering the career world. The same holds true for academic staff: as early as the second year of school, I was learning about technology career options and planning for internships. I knew that regardless of which technology career path I took, UW-Stout was there to support me and help me to achieve my goals.

What clubs and activities were you involved in?
I was involved in the Stout Information Technology Association, which was the student organization for my program concentration. Another activity I enjoyed was tutoring fellow students in Composition classes. One year I presented at the Take Your Daughter To Work Day, which was meaningful because I had attended that event as a grade-schooler.

Any advice for prospective students that are considering your major:
Today’s equivalent to my 1997 “Telecommunications” concentration is the Information Technology Management major. Prospective students would benefit from an understanding that this major does not only produce network infrastructure engineers. The curriculum is structured to provide a broadly based technical foundation, and from there your opportunities in IT are unlimited.