11/20/2024
Alumni Spotlight 🌟
Due to economic necessity, James Hagan entered the workforce after high
school graduation. Years later, he was looking for a path to a better life and chose to attend Cleveland State Community College.
“I was looking for a career where I could earn enough money to grow a family and never return to the grief-stricken poverty which engulfed my childhood,” said Hagan. “I wanted a career in which I could reach out to the most people and help them, one that had unlimited growth and lifelong learning.”
After earning a degree in criminal justice, Hagan continued in the Computer Information
Technology (CIT) program at Cleveland State and earned an associate degree with a cyber security emphasis in May 2022. He earned the CompTIA A+ industry certification before graduating and the CompTIA Network+ certification soon after.
Now, he is an IT Consultant. “I contract out as a systems administrator and provide direct assistance to almost 700 users,” said Hagan. “Being able to help people with day-to-day tasks and guide companies into the future of IT, while protecting them from the dangers of improper cyber security, fills me with great pride.”
While at Cleveland State, Hagan worked as an intern in the Tech Solutions lab.
“The opportunity to work on campus was without question responsible for me entering the workforce with the confidence I needed to be successful,” said Hagan. “Being able to communicate with like-minded professionals and develop team building skills before entering the post-graduate work force has been absolutely instrumental in IT. Not just with other students, but the professors. They encouraged students to branch out and learn as much as possible while providing guidance where needed. The Tech Solutions Lab was the most transformative piece within my education that has allowed me to excel in this field.”
Hagan is working on his bachelor’s degree in cyber defense with Western Governors
University; he plans to graduate in May 2025 and continue learning. He said, “In this career, if you stop learning, you will quickly fall behind. I enjoy the challenge.”
