Mamoudou Barry
Mamoudou Barry and Ayusha Khadka, two computer science majors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, are the first scholarship recipients through the new Cadence Bank Computer Science Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program.
Established in 2021, this annual scholarship provides funding for tuition and fees for two students who are enrolled in a degree-granting program in the UAB Department of Computer Science with preference given to students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Mamoudou Barry, a senior majoring in computer science at UAB, plans to pursue a career in software development after graduating from UAB in Fall 2022. “When I moved to the United States in 2017, I faced many challenges, such as learning English and working double shifts, but my dream to become a computer scientist and the first in my family to graduate from college gave me the courage not to give up,” Barry said. “[Cadence Bank’s] generosity is helping me to make my goals and dreams a reality.”
Ayusha KhadkaAyusha Khadka, also a senior majoring in computer science, is pursuing her goal to become a software engineer after graduating from UAB. “This scholarship has helped me cover my tuition during my senior year,” she said. According to Khadka, the award from Cadence Bank has allowed her to continue her involvement in student organizations such as the Alabama Agni Dance Team, the Nepalese Student Association at UAB, and the TRIO STEM-H Program.
The Department of Computer Science prides itself in providing innovative degree programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate degree programs include a B.S. in Computer Science, a B.A. in Computer Science, a B.S. in Bioinformatics (offered jointly with the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the Department of Biology), and a B.S. in Digital Forensics (offered jointly with the Department of Criminal Justice). The department also offers an M.S. in Computer Science, an M.S. in Data Science, an interdisciplinary M.S. in Cyber Security (offered jointly with the Department of Criminal Justice), and a Ph.D. in Computer Science.
Cadence Bank is a regional banking franchise with dual headquarters in Tupelo, Mississippi, and Houston, Texas, and a significant support center in Birmingham, Alabama.
