Reviewed by: Callie Morrison
This math major is thriving in the software field in Huntsville—find out why now
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If you’re like me, math is not your cup of tea. But if you’re Ashton Haralson, it’s the reason you’re in the software field in Huntsville.
Read on to learn why this math major is crushing her career and how you can too.
Meet Ashton
Born and raised in Florence, Ashton graduated from Wilson High School, where she was Valedictorian and a majorette in the band. Because of her love for band, she had her eyes set on the University of North Alabama (UNA)—known for having one of the best bands in the state.
Being a majorette is what attracted her to UNA, but the math program is what made her stay. She had always loved math (algebra was her favorite class in high school), but UNA’s Department of Mathematics took it to the next level.
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Top-notch math program at UNA
During her freshman year at UNA, Ashton took Calculus 2. She fell in love with UNA’s math department and hasn’t looked back.
“UNA’s professors sealed the deal for me on becoming a math major. When it comes to collegiate math classes, it’s extremely difficult to do well without collaborating with your professors. The instructors at UNA were so kind and set me up for success.”
Ashton Haralson, Scrum Master/Software Tester at nou Systems
Ashton’s professors also helped her map out a career path that aligned with her unique goals. At their recommendation, she decided to add a computer science minor to make her more competitive in the workforce.
“In my career, I’ve been able to use math as a base to branch out to different fields like software and coding. Because they offer unique classes like Actuary Studies and CODE (Categorizing Our DNA Exceptions), UNA’s well-rounded math department made me adaptable for the workforce.”
Ashton Haralson, Scrum Master/Software Tester at nou Systems
She also loved the fun hands-on activities she experienced during her time at UNA, like chili cook-offs and Pi Day. Plus, she got the opportunity to present coding research at HudsonAlpha and attend a math convention in Chicago.
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If you enjoy hands-on activities and interactive learning, check out UNA’s math major.
Finding her dream job in Huntsville
After successfully graduating with her math degree, Ashton set her eyes on the Rocket City. Because of Huntsville’s strong reputation with the STEM field, she knew she’d find great opportunities.
When she decided to move in 2019, Ashton immediately fell in love with Huntsville and all the fun things to do. She especially enjoyed downtown, MidCity and Huntsville Havoc and Trash Panda games.
Career growth in Huntsville
In the professional sphere, she started her first job at Dynetics as a Radar Systems Analyst, conducting mathematical analysis for radars.
Her math degree helped her land this first opportunity at Dynetics. However, as the company’s needs shifted, she moved into a new role where she utilized her computer science minor and worked as a software developer and part-time Scrum Master.
A Scrum Master facilitates the agile framework for software development. Or, in layman’s terms, they act as a coach for a team of software developers. In this role, Ashton got to fuse her love for coding with her interest in communicating and connecting with others.
However, one thing she always wanted to do was missing from her job.
“I had been interested in software testing for a while. I’ve always been a detail-oriented person, so I felt like I’d be good at it.
One day, I was looking online and came across an opportunity that was titled, ‘Scrum Master/Software Tester’ at nou Systems. It was exactly what I was looking for.”
Ashton Haralson, Scrum Master/Software Tester at nou Systems
Ashton had never seen that combination before and knew it was the dream job for her. She applied and got the position—she absolutely loves it and has been at nou Systems for over a year.
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Check out the Department of Mathematics at UNA
If you’re interested in excellent career opportunities like Ashton’s, check out some awesome features of UNA’s math department:
- A NEW Master of Sciences in Mathematics gives Huntsville students the flexibility to study from home.
- In conjunction with the CPR2 Summer Institute for Math Teachers, UNA offers a summer STEM camp for high school students.
- Math/CS Undergraduate Research Team allows students to expand their research skills.
- The Dual Degree Engineering Program (DDEP) is designed to be completed in three years at UNA and two years at the University of Alabama. This program offers students the opportunity to earn two bachelor’s degrees in five years.
Ready to begin your success story? Apply to UNA today.
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