Veteran finds ‘algorithm for success’ in Lipscomb’s computer science program
Abigail McQueen |
Veteran Travis Mayfield received a Bachelor of Science in computer science in December. As he walked across the stage, he carried with him the wealth of experience and knowledge he had gained during his time at Lipscomb as a non-traditional student.
Prior to enrolling at Lipscomb, Mayfield was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps and worked as an air traffic control maintenance technician. While he enjoyed his work, he says he wanted to explore the software side of technology.
“As technicians, we often had to contract programming tasks, and I was always intrigued by how those processes were accomplished,” he says. “That curiosity and desire to understand programming at a deeper level inspired me to pursue a degree in computer science, where I could learn to build and innovate through software development.”
Mayfield wanted a computer science program that provided a strong academic foundation and aligned with his career goals.
“Lipscomb's computer science program was my first choice because of its excellent reputation, small class sizes, and personalized learning environment,” he says. “The faith-based curriculum and veteran-friendly atmosphere made it clear that this was the right place to finish my degree.”
While at Lipscomb, Mayfield was a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, which allowed him to learn from business leaders and connect with other equally driven students. He also worked as a tutor and served as the School of Computing’s vice president of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), student chapter, for two semesters.
“This was an especially exciting time because it marked the first time the school established the ACM chapter, giving us the opportunity to help design the program for a community dedicated to supporting and inspiring computer science students at Lipscomb,” he says.
As a student, Travis had the opportunity to intern at HCA Healthcare. He describes the experience as “incredible” and “unliked anything [he] had encountered in a workplace before.”
“One of the highlights of my time at HCA was learning Power BI, and using it to build a dashboard for the Applications Portfolio Management Team,” he says. “This dashboard streamlined their workflow, replacing outdated spreadsheets with a dynamic, automated solution that saved countless hours and provided real-time insights for their clients.”
“During my internship extension, I carried the dashboard through into production, ensuring it was fully operational and meeting the team's needs,” Mayfield continues. “It was incredibly rewarding to know that the dashboard I created is being used daily, making a tangible impact on the team's efficiency.”
Now that he has graduated, Mayfield plans to pursue a career in software development. He says his internship gave him a strong foundation in data visualization and business intelligence tools, and he hopes to build on this expertise.
“I'm passionate about opportunities that allow me to work on collaborative teams and tackle challenging projects, whether it's developing custom applications, optimizing workflows, or enhancing user experiences,” he says. “In the not-so-distant future, I will continue learning and growing in the IT field, but eventually taking on leadership roles where I can mentor others and contribute to strategic decision-making.”
As he reflects on his time at Lipscomb, Mayfield says that the university has exceeded his expectations. He is especially grateful for his professors, who guided him through the challenges of computer science.
“Through a combination of rigorous coursework and hands-on experiences, Lipscomb gave me the tools to succeed in this field. My professors emphasized both foundational knowledge and real-world applications, which allowed me to feel confident stepping into back-to-back internships,” reflects Mayfield. “With the little experience I've had so far during those internships, I can already see that Lipscomb has the best algorithm for success. It has not only prepared me technically but also reinforced those values of perseverance, curiosity, and community.”