Computer science adult learner uses the power of saying yes to opportunities to land full-time job after graduation

Written by: Chris McCauley
Media Contact: Tehreem Khan

Leslie Mollica resumed her education after an 11-year break, embraced opportunities in the computer science program and will graduate Aug. 10 having secured a full-time job with Southern Company.After a daunting gap of 11 years, Leslie Mollica fearlessly resumed her educational journey as an undergraduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Throughout her time as a self-described "nonconventional student," in the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Computer Science, she embraced opportunities when they emerged and always stayed open to possibilities. Now Mollica is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in computer science with a minor in business during summer commencement Saturday, Aug. 10.

"It is never too late to start something new," Mollica said. "When you say 'yes,' opportunities open to you that you can't even imagine in your wildest dreams."

She chose UAB as it was conveniently located near her home in downtown Birmingham. She registered for a slate of core courses and decided to wait before declaring a major. "I wasn't sure about the direction that I was heading," Mollica said.

Even though her major was unclear, she still leaned into the experience and successfully navigated her first year at UAB. During that same year, she met her husband and decided to start a family, resulting in a brief pause in her college career.

During her break from college, Mollica and her husband traveled, started a life together and had two kids. It was a joyful period; but after a few years, she and her husband decided that, to achieve their long-term goals, they both needed to go back to college.

"I decided to go to Jefferson State Community College and went down the nutrition path for a little while," Mollica said.

However, it was not nutrition that captured her interest at Jeff State. Instead, it was a web design class that she took as an elective.

"I fell in love with it - it was so much fun," Mollica said. "The professor that I had was so supportive and encouraging, and he told me I would be really good at computer science."

Mollica entertained his recommendation and started researching nearby computer science programs. Coincidentally, she found herself back at the university where it all started - UAB. Along with its academic offerings, UAB also fulfilled some practical considerations for her.

"I was living north of the city, and UAB was near my children's school, it was near my husband's work, and it had been a school that I had already attended," Mollica said.

Her second experience at UAB was much different from her first because she enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic and had to participate in her first few classes remotely. Thankfully, as the pandemic began to wane, Mollica found herself back in the classroom alongside her new classmates, and in very little time, a community began to form.

"The students I was enrolled with were supportive, outgoing and friendly," Mollica said.

In addition to welcoming students, Mollica found the faculty members and their respective courses to be engaging and helpful. She particularly enjoyed courses with Mahmut Unan, Ph.D.; Ragib Hasan, Ph.D.; and Amber Wagner, Ph.D., whose project-based capstone class stood out to her.

"The way Dr. Wagner focuses on projects first is something I would love to see more of," she said. "What it comes down to is being able to use these technical skills in real life."

Mollica worked closely with Associate Professor John Johnstone, Ph.D., as a teaching assistant. To recognize her diligence, he nominated her for the 2024 Honors Convocation Award, the most prestigious award she has ever received.

This transformational experience polished Mollica's leadership skills and boosted her confidence to pursue another opportunity at UAB. She secured an internship with Southern Company for the spring 2024 semester, setting the stage for her future career.

"In the fall of 2023, I attended the Computer Science and Engineering Career Fair. I talked with different booths, including Southern Company, and connected with their amazing recruiter. I landed an interview, and within a week, I was offered an internship with them for the spring semester," Mollica said.

She started as a part-time intern in spring 2024 and transitioned to a full-time intern in the summer. Her excellence and skills were evident during the internship, so Southern Company paid for her tuition for her last two semesters.

Mollica exhibited professionalism and practical knowledge of the field, helping her secure a full-time job as an information technology support analyst for Southern Power and PowerSecure Technology Solutions. She will begin her job in the fall.

For Mollica, her success illustrates the importance of pushing forward, trying new things and saying "yes" to opportunities.

"Never give up," Mollica said. "Age doesn't matter. Go for it. All you need are faith and determination."

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