By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart
New alum Niaz Hussain (CSAS ’25) is the picture of SUNY Broome success: he graduated with his Computer Science: A.S. degree on a Thursday, and by Friday afternoon, he was already moving into his first office downtown. But the best part of Hussain’s story is that it is not unique. He’s one of the thousands of students who followed the college-to-career path which starts at SUNY Broome, and ends with a job offer from one of the area’s top employers. As the community’s college, SUNY Broome’s mission is to attract, train, and retain local talent—and the results speak for themselves.
Born and raised in Broome County, Hussain grew up surrounded by a large community of extended family and friends. The oldest of five children, he paved the way as the first Binghamton Patriot in his family.
Naturally drawn to technology, his affinity for all things hardware and software started early. When he wasn’t taking apart phones, tablets, and computers, he was solving complex equations as a Binghamton High School mathlete. Bitten by the cybersecurity bug, Hussain dabbled in coding with C++ in his free time. Hoping to turn his part-time hobby into a full-time career, he felt the logical next step would be to earn a degree in computer science with additional certifications in cybersecurity.
Initially interested in private universities upstate, Hussain reconsidered his options upon realizing that everything he was looking for was in his backyard.
“SUNY Broome had the computer science program that I wanted, which is the gold standard for tech people, and the College had a really welcoming learning environment,” Hussain explained. “I immediately felt at home on campus.”
As Hussain became immersed in the world of data structures, discrete mathematics, and object-oriented programming, he discovered a vital network of support from his fellow soon-to-be coders and technologists.
“Though we weren’t officially a club, the computer science students essentially acted like one out of necessity,” Hussain laughed. “I would spend 20 hours on an assignment, and not know how to solve it, so I’d meet my friends in the AT Lab to work on it together. We’d finally figure it out after lots of collaboration and a little bit of intentional avoidance to clear our minds.”
Innately industrious, Hussain never shied away from hard work. Throughout his life, he’s repaired cell phones, fixed roofs, entered data, and worked in food service. Hussain spent his second year on campus employed by the College’s Information Technology Services (ITS) Department. There, he manned the help desk, reset passwords, guided his classmates through the portal, and troubleshot hardware issues.
As graduation neared, Hussain was browsing local jobs when a listing for an Operations Support Specialist at William H. Lane Incorporated caught his eye. Within an hour of applying, he was invited to interview, and by the end of the week, he was officially on the payroll.
Niaz Hussain is proud to be a young alum of his community’s college! Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
William H. Lane Incorporated, a local leader in construction management, general construction, and design services, has been a long-time champion of the community’s college. As a Bronze Circle annual donor, the company is instrumental in funding the Presidential Honors Scholarship, SUNY Broome’s full-tuition scholarship awarded to top-performing high school seniors from across the Southern Tier. As a firm believer in the quality of a SUNY Broome education, it’s no wonder the company leapt at the chance to hire a recent graduate.
“In general, I think employers really respect computer science students, because they understand that our world is driven by technology and that we are trained to solve the technological problems that inevitably arise,” Hussain shared. “Locally, I think employers also really respect SUNY Broome graduates. They know that our degrees really prepare us for our fields.”
Hussain’s role at Lane is twofold. On the operations side, he manages the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, supporting project managers as they prepare for new jobs. As the primary on-site IT professional, Hussain balances systems administration with cybersecurity management. One minute, he’s fixing a blueprint printer three times his size, and the next, he’s writing a script to optimize workflow. He combats phishing attempts and repairs on-site and off-site hardware. Instead of outsourcing their IT needs to vendors across the country, the team can now just pop down the hall for help from Hussain.
“I feel like I’m definitely making a contribution to the office, but I am also learning so much,” Hussain beamed. “The construction industry is so interesting. Every day I learn more about construction management and design.”
Always hungry to learn more, Hussain juggles working full-time with completing his bachelor’s degree in computer science. When he’s not solving problems, he likes to relax with friends and focus on his faith.
“A few weeks ago, I was driving home from the grocery store and needed to pray. I was right by the campus, so I pulled in and went to the Meditation Room in The Commons,” Hussain shared. “It was the first time that I had been on campus since I graduated, and it felt so nice to be back at Broome as a new alum.”
Niaz’s Advice for Future Broome Students: “SUNY Broome is such a great option for local students. The people are great, the programs are strong, and great things will follow.”
Read more inspiring stories in the newest issue of BROOME Magazine!
Approximately 50% of William H. Lane Incorporated employees have attended SUNY Broome! Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers
Tags: Alumni, Computer Science AS, Profile, STEM Division, Student Activities, SUNY Broome Foundation
