February 19, 2025
The Story Begins in SCI
Meet Isabela Garcia (SCI ’23) and Joy Gimei (SCI ’24), two SCI alumni who met as undergraduates and are now both lifelong friends and colleagues at a top four consulting firm in Pittsburgh.
When Isabela Garcia first arrived at Pitt, it was the first year that the information sciences (IS) major was offered to freshmen. She explained that it wasn’t a large program at the time, and most people didn’t even know what information science was. To give the program more of a platform at Pitt, Garcia and some friends founded the Official Association for Students of Information Science (OASIS). This club would serve as an on-campus resource for IS students to meet one another, get involved, and have fun with others who share similar interests.
“OASIS allowed me to gain confidence in myself and the things I am passionate about," said Joy Gimei.
One year later, Joy Gimei arrived at Pitt as an undergraduate, knowing she wanted to do the IS major from the start. Getting involved in OASIS was a no-brainer, and later, Gimei became the president of the club where her friendship with Garcia began to take off.
In this interview, Garcia and Gimei laughed as they reminisced about one of their favorite OASIS memories – a painting night for the members of the club. Garcia had brought birdhouses, treasure chests, and other figurines for a crafting event, but she forgot one key item: paintbrushes. What followed was a hilariously chaotic night of finger painting, improvising with paper towels, and getting creative to make their crafts work out despite the odds being against them.
Now, the two friends can look back on these memories and be grateful for the close friendships they made through getting involved in campus clubs like OASIS. Plus, building relationships with classmates in similar academic programs can be incredibly valuable for future careers, offering support and opportunities that last well beyond graduation.
Careers in Motion
Both Garcia and Gimei now work at Deloitte, one of SCI’s corporate partners. Gimei, a Government and Public Services Analyst, connected with Deloitte through a conversation with a Pitt alum at their booth during the annual Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Meeting someone who shared her experiences at Pitt made the conference feel far less intimidating and opened doors for new connections that later helped her get a job at the company.
Garcia also noted the influence of networking, recalling an email she received about an executive breakfast event for first-year students only. After attending, this was where her network began to grow, catalyzing a series of doors opening that would lead her to an internship at PPG, then later a job at Deloitte. By showing up to on-campus events and getting to know the current employees, her familiarity within the company was a helpful factor in landing the job.
Now, Garcia works as a Business Technology Analyst in the firm's financial sector, working with organizations such as banks and retirement services to develop solutions for managing their data. Gimei works in the government sector of the firm and is an analyst for local and state agencies. She emphasized how reassuring it was to have a familiar face when joining Deloitte, and now they both thrive in their roles at the company.
Garcia pointed out how useful the lessons she learned in SCI are in her current role in Deloitte, both in terms of technical skills and professional development.
“The classes I took with Leona Mitchell are incredibly relevant to my current job,” she explained.
Gimei echoed Garcia’s praise of Mitchell’s approach, explaining how the project-based courses helped them grasp the holistic aspects and human dynamics of technology. She also shared how her experiences as president of OASIS and her involvement in a sorority gave her valuable opportunities to step outside her comfort zone and build confidence.
"My best advice would be to take things one step at a time, and trust that you'll end up where you're meant to be," said Gimei.
As these stories show, SCI offers countless opportunities for students to get involved – even fun activities and extracurriculars can contribute to professional growth and lead to meaningful connections. This philosophy drives SCI to foster a strong sense of community, not only preparing students for their future careers but also creating lasting memories along the way.