Daria Besa

Besa, from Euclid, Ohio, is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems and Marketing. She still recalls the excitement of her first day at CSU in August 2021. Although she initially pursued Marketing, an information systems technology course in her third year inspired her to add a second major.

Balancing two majors required discipline, long hours, and determination, but Besa describes it as one of her most rewarding decisions. It helped her gain confidence and clarity in her future career path.

Brigid Campbell, assistant college lecturer in Information Systems, praised Besa for her exceptional teamwork and her ability to bring classmates together. She also noted that as an African American woman in technology, Besa has set a strong example for others while actively supporting the development of her peers.

Beyond academics, Besa is committed to community service. She volunteers at her former high school, her church, and the Fr. Wittman Ozanam Center, supporting underrepresented and underserved groups.

“Looking back at my journey at CSU, I have learned that growth comes from taking that first step no matter if the direction is what you expected,” she said. “What started off as uncertainty became an unforgettable journey of discovery that will continue to shape who I am becoming in my life and career.” 

When I first declared my major, I chose Marketing. I enjoyed the concepts but wanted something more technical and challenging, so I added Information Systems and I definitely found the challenge I was looking for.

Completing two majors required discipline and organization, but it was achievable. I managed the heavy workload by planning my time and making sacrifices when necessary. I also earned several certifications, many of which were tied to my courses. Certifications are a great way to explore topics not fully covered in class and to build additional skills aligned with your goals.

To future Information Systems students: technology is constantly evolving, and in business, we play a key role in helping nontechnical individuals understand it. That makes your skills truly valuable.

If you ever feel lost, that’s okay. Some concepts make sense later sometimes a semester or even a year afterward. Always ask for help from classmates or professors. Information Systems is continuous learning, and it gives you the ability to turn creative ideas into real solutions that can make a meaningful impact.

Professional Certifications Earned
● Google Professional Cloud Data Engineer
● Google Analytics Certification
● Google Cybersecurity Certification
● Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Foundations Associate Certification
● Oracle Cybersecurity Badge
● ServiceNow Micro-Certification
● Google Data Engineer, Big Data, and Machine Learning on GCP
● Google Cloud Big Data and Machine Learning Fundamentals
● Automate Cybersecurity Tasks with Python