Courtney Harris (Graduate)
- Raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Graduated Liberty High School in 2019
- Graduated from University of New Orleans May 2023
- Majored in Computer Science with a Certificate in Software Engineering.
- Works as a Microsoft: Product Manager
- Is a first-generation college student.
From a very young age, Courtney Harris was inspired by superhero movies. She admired the technology Spiderman, Iron Man, and Shuri developed, envisioning herself in their shoes creating insane new inventions. By the time Harris had entered high school, she had an irrefutable love for STEM. But to make her dreams a reality, Harris had to be proactive. She joined the LSU STEM Pathways* program, which allowed her to explore the different STEM variations and guide her in making a more educated decision on which degree to pursue.
The pre-engineering course work gave Harris the opportunity to prepare for the rigorous classes she would take in college. She dually enrolled in math and engineering courses at LSU which increased her determination, ambition, and work ethic. She credits her successes in college to the LSU STEM Pathways program and its proactive approach to education, helping to build her confidence and understanding in unfamiliar STEM subjects. In addition, Harris mentions the great memories she gained due to the wonderful community of students and instructors, specifically highlighting Ms. Begat as an irreplaceable cornerstone of her experience. Harris emphasizes that Ms. Baget really cared about her students, and confidently states that she has supported her through thick and thin, regardless of how much time has passed since her early days in the pre-engineering program.
After graduating with her degree in Computer Science from UNO, Harris continued to use the skills she retained from the LSU Pathways Program to kickstart her career as a Product Manager at Microsoft. Harris’ position offers her the opportunity to work on features and products that people use, see, and enjoy every single day. Less than a year out of undergraduate program, Harris still contemplates her possible future professions, but hopes to work towards a career that combines two of her biggest passions: art and technology. Without the Pathways Program, Harris would have struggled to figure out the STEM education she truly wanted to work towards.
Harris believes that in STEM, there is something for everyone, advising students to survey all the different variations of engineering available to them. “The STEM field is so vast and diverse, give yourself the opportunity to explore and learn.” In five years, Harris still envisions herself working at Microsoft, but acknowledges that her career could change at any moment in time. At the end of the day, she hopes for happiness and financial stability wherever her career in STEM takes her.
*Offered by the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy, the LSU STEM Pathways are specialized sequences of courses that emphasize connections across STEM disciplines for middle and high school students. They consist of a series of stackable courses that prepare students for the workforce or post-secondary education. Pathways include pre-engineering, computer science, digital media and pre-healthcare. Students in these pathways can earn university certificates, industry-based credentials, and/or dual enrollment credit. The following story highlights Courtney Harris' journey through the program.
