Hi, I’m Amanda Acevedo. I majored in physics with a minor in computer science and now own Vedo Systems, a software engineering firm in Houston. We develop, integrate, and test software for NASA. 

Why CLAS? 

One of the most valuable things I gained from CLAS was what I call a “cross-discipline advantage.” My technical education was essential, but so were the skills I developed outside my major: communicating and writing clearly, asking probing questions, listening well, collaborating across disciplines, and discerning fact from noise. I also learned from professors who challenged me to reach beyond what I thought I could do and cared about developing students as people, not simply about their grades. 

As technology races forward, that breadth will become even more important. We need people who can look beyond their own areas of expertise, understand different perspectives, and connect knowledge across disciplines. Those who develop that cross-discipline advantage will be especially well prepared to navigate—and lead—in a rapidly changing world.