BOONE, N.C. — As a functional analyst with CGI, Appalachian State University alumna Nadine Lambert ’17 gets to solve puzzles every day.

CGI is a consulting firm that specializes in information technology and business process solutions. The company has offices in the United States, South America, Europe and Asia. Lambert works on government contracts in the northern Virginia office.

“I have to figure out why numbers aren’t adding up the way they should or why the software isn’t behaving as expected,” she said. “It’s a lot of problem-solving and a lot of fun. I have a good first job.”

Her job involves getting to know a client’s needs, customers, organization and business objectives, and then working within a team to make sure the company’s computer systems are efficient, effective and easy for its employees to use.

“Being in consulting, I have the mobility to move around within CGI,” she said. “I get something new all of the time.”

Lambert, who is from Asheboro, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a concentration in computation. She developed an interest in the computation side of math when she attended a summer course at Appalachian before her freshman year called Summer Bridge.

“While I was in the Summer Bridge program, I met a bunch of people who wanted to do computer science,” she said. “After being around them, it sounded like a lot of fun.”

One of the most valuable classes she took during her time at Appalachian was a seminar in the S-STEM Program that involved doing research, making presentations and working in a team on projects throughout the semester.

“That class created an opportunity to work with a variety of people, and develop communication and presentation skills,” she said. “Having so many presentations about projects at school has been really helpful when giving presentations at work.”

She developed relationships with several professors in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

“It was a small department, which was beneficial when I was doing research or homework to be able to go to office hours and actually get help,” she said. “I feel like there are a lot of opportunities at App.”

Mathematics (BS) - Computation

The Mathematics (BS) - Computation degree is designed for students interested in the intersection of mathematics and computation. Students will develop strong computer skills to go with their mathematical expertise.

Learn more

First Destination Success

Appalachian tracks where its graduates go, notes high success rate

Whether graduates seek immediate employment or an advanced degree, their experience at Appalachian State University gets them where they want to go at a high rate of success.

Learn more

About the Department of Mathematical Sciences

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in actuarial science and mathematics, with concentrations in business, computation, life sciences, physical sciences, secondary teaching and statistics, plus a general, self-designed concentration. The department also offers the Master of Arts in mathematics, with concentrations in college teaching and secondary teaching. Learn more at https://mathsci.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.