Charting the Future: Jenni French Cyrek
As we chart the future at Northwest University, we are constantly thinking about how we can put Jesus first in training our students for the creation of the future and leadership within it. We want Northwest University to be the best place in the world for Christians to study computer science and digital technology. In order to achieve that goal, we will have to:
• Employ Christian professors who know Jesus and understand how to disciple their students in Christian community and personal devotion to Christ. We are building a Christ-centered ethos and ethics of technology, helping students to evaluate all technology from the perspective of cultural impact, ethical considerations, and how we engage the world as Christians.
• Stay abreast of the latest developments in technology and in the business climate that deploys it.
• Create an environment of excitement for innovation and design-focused application of technology to meet human need across the many fields of study and work. The emphasis Creatio places on design thinking distinguishes us from most other schools that teach computer science and other tech programs.
• Identify and hire professors who have the academic qualifications and the professional experience to guide students into a trajectory of change-friendly, industrious energy for embracing the challenges ahead.
The video interview that follows gives you a sample of what we have achieved so far. Our location here in the Silicon Forest makes highly-skilled Christian technologists available all around us—like adjunct professor Jenni French Cyrek. In the video, you will see how she brings deep knowledge, broad expertise, fresh experience, magnetic charisma, sharp communication skills, personal empathy, creative drive, and spiritual fervor to our classrooms. She’s not alone, and in a short time, our classes in user experience design have filled up with eager students excited about designing digital technology in a way that expresses our Northwest University identity and mission.
The computer science program is starting to grow as well, along with great programs in video and audio technology. Game development and graphic design will roll out soon. We’ll also add programs in artificial intelligence and cyber security. It will take lots of time and money to achieve our goals. To form these programs in a way that keeps putting Jesus first will require God’s help in sending us more and more people like Jenni.
But as we chart the future, this video illustrates and illuminates the path ahead.