F&M Stories
From the Gridiron to the Computer Grid
On the football field, Isaiah Brown 鈥�24 found routine and discipline. In the classroom, he found logic and purpose.
鈥淚 took a range of classes just to explore my options, and it wasn鈥檛 until I signed up for a computer science course that things started to click. I liked the logical structure of coding and the way it challenged me to think differently,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淓ventually it became clear this was the direction I wanted to pursue.鈥�
Brown is now a software engineer for Lockheed Martin, one of the largest companies in the aerospace, military support, security, and technologies industry.
Brown is a member of F&M鈥檚 Class of 2024. Within six months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2024 were either employed or furthering their education. This is higher than the national average, which is typically in the mid-80% range.
Isaiah Brown 鈥�24
Major: Computer science
Current role: Software engineer for Lockheed Martin
What did the first six months after graduating from F&M look like?
After graduation, I took a month to travel through Asia to Japan and China before starting my job as a software engineer at Lockheed Martin. Starting full time was a big adjustment鈥攖he pace was fast, and there was a lot to learn right away. The first few months were challenging, but I relied on the problem-solving skills I built at F&M to make meaningful contributions.
How did your F&M experience prepare you for where you are now?
My computer science classes gave me a solid foundation for the technical side of my software engineering job. Being on the football team helped in a different way鈥攊t taught me how to manage my time and stay disciplined. It also made working out a regular part of my routine, which I鈥檝e kept up after starting work.
How does your current path compare to what you envisioned in your first year at F&M?
My current path is drastically different from what I imagined during my first year at F&M. I was completely undecided and unsure if I even wanted to pursue a STEM major. I took a range of classes just to explore my options, and it wasn鈥檛 until I signed up for a computer science course that things started to click. I liked the logical structure of coding and the way it challenged me to think differently. From there, I kept taking more computer science classes, and eventually it became clear this was the direction I wanted to pursue.
Looking back on your college search, why did you choose F&M?
I chose F&M for a few different reasons. When I toured the campus, I really liked the atmosphere鈥攊t felt welcoming and easy to picture myself there. One thing that stood out was how available and approachable the professors were. The smaller class sizes and focus on undergraduates meant it was easy to ask questions, go to office hours, and actually get to know your professors. That kind of support made a big difference, both in and out of the classroom.
鈥淢y computer science classes gave me a solid foundation for the technical side of
my software engineering job. I relied on the problem-solving skills I built at F&M
to make meaningful contributions.鈥�
鈥� Isaiah Brown 鈥�24
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