Israel Vazquez

In deciding where to continue his education after high school, Israel Vazquez wanted to be challenged and have opportunities to grow beyond the classroom. With a strong reputation for technology and innovation, Arizona State University was the perfect choice. 

When looking at degree programs to pursue, Vazquez had always been curious about how things worked behind the scenes with systems, networks and solving technology problems —  the information technology program in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, was one that interested him.

What surprised him was the versatility of information technology.

“You can go from cybersecurity to cloud computing to support and infrastructure,” Vazquez says. “It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure book, but in the tech world.”

While at ASU, he was involved in hands-on experiences with labs, worked on group projects and collaborated with peers on tech-related challenges. In addition, he competed in intramural sports to help connect with others outside the classroom and develop soft skills.

When considering which faculty members had the most impact on his time at ASU, he couldn’t name just one.

“Several professors have helped me grow and learn at ASU. Eric Bishop, Damien Doheny, Derex Griffin, Sami Mian and Dr. Tatiana Walsh pushed me and guided me in ways that shaped both my technical skills and my personal life,” Vazquez says. “Whether it was through challenging coursework, honest feedback or just believing in me when I doubted myself, each of them played a crucial role in my development. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without their support.”

Upon graduation, Vazquez would like to be working in information technology or systems engineering in the Phoenix area. He’s open to start wherever the best opportunity leads him. Ultimately, Vazquez would like to be a part of building systems that help people and would love to contribute to creating technology that is efficient and future-ready.

“Information technology touches everything. From the systems that keep hospitals running to the tools that help students learn,” he says. “This degree gives me the opportunity to solve problems and make things easier for people when it comes to tech.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2025 class here.