Aicha Gory’s ’26 fascination with problem-solving made a career in computer science an ideal choice for her. With a strong background in STEM, she remained committed to her goals, even when faced with challenges as she navigated a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these obstacles, her dedication to pursuing education fueled her resilience.
“Coming from Senegal, adapting to a new environment and navigating remote learning while improving my English ability was intimidating, but it also taught me resilience and adaptability,” says Gory.
After completing an online course at Syracuse University in the summer of 2021, Gory had an opportunity to visit the University’s campus, an experience that was crucial to her decision to attend the college.
“I enjoyed the powerful sense of community and the faculty’s help during the online session, which gave me confidence that Syracuse is a place where I might succeed,” she says. “I wanted to attend a school with a strong engineering department, and Syracuse’s combination of academic brilliance and a welcoming environment made it the perfect choice for me.”
Throughout her academic journey at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Gory has had the opportunity to explore her passions through internships. As an operations analyst intern at a financial institution, she improved financial accuracy by managing and verifying over 100 daily deposit transactions, ensured regulatory compliance and reduced errors.
She’s also been involved with the Research Exposure in Socially Relevant Computing (RESORC) program, where she attends research meetings, participates in technical research, soft skills-building sessions and collaborates with peers to brainstorm research topics.
“I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and contribute to impactful research. Also, I am in the steps of working on a project related to virtual reality with my professor from my VR class, which I am excited about. This opportunity will allow me to practice what I’ve learned in class and gain more experience.”
In addition to her academics, Gory holds positions in many clubs including the Secretary for the Society of Women Engineers, the Conference Planning Chair for the National Society of Black Engineers and an Academic Excellence Workshop Facilitator. Gory is also a mentor in the Catalyst Scholars program, which supports first-generation college students.
This role is perfect for her since she understands the struggles these students face and helps them adjust to college life as they navigate their academic journey. She also assists the admissions office with student panels, which allows her to “give back and help others who are in a similar position as a first-generation student.”
When she’s not juggling various responsibilities, Gory enjoys cooking, spending time with loved ones, watching sunsets and playing Badminton. She seeks to become a data scientist in healthcare, finance, business, or technology.
“Take time to care for yourself and enjoy the process of learning and growth. Remember, never compare yourself to others. We all have different paths, and the end goal is to simply keep moving forward and make it.”