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Zayd Zori Becomes the First Hire of Software Engineering Pilot Program

June 2019

Spelman Graduate Zayd ZoriWhile at Spelman College, Zayd Zori, C’2019, blazed her own path by creating her own major – Culture Studies: Interactive Media and Game Design -- a unique blend of academic rigor that focuses on game development and how games affect the people who play them.

Now she is moving on to pursue her dream job as an associate software engineer at Pivotal Software Company in New York. Her job is part of the company’s Pivotal RISE program, which places graduates of historically Black colleges and universities in full-time, entry-level positions.

Zori is the company's first Pivotal RISE hire. “With the support of the administration at Spelman and my family, I was able to carve out a unique path to achieve my goals,” said Zori. “I will be forever grateful for my experience at Spelman and the opportunities they afforded me to transition into the next stage of my life.”

While at Spelman, Zori was a Dweitt Dean Scholarship recipient, president of the AUc Japan Club, and an active member of the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She also participated in the Spelman College domestic exchange program where she studied game design at The New School in New York City. 

Zayd Zori Wows Attendees at Spelman College Research Day 2019

A Note of Thanks to the Spelman Community From Zori

I would like to sincerely thank a certain group of people for supporting me throughout my college career. Without them, I wouldn't have made it to where I am today and I will be forever grateful for their efforts.

With that being said, I am sending a heartfelt thanks to the following individuals who were instrumental in making my Spelman experience unique: President Mary Schmidt Campbell, Dr. Jerry Volcy, Dr. Michelle Hite, Dr.Karen Brakke, Dr.Xuexin Liu, Registrar John Brown, Dr. Margery Ganz, Dr. Amos Johnson Jr., Dr. Andrea Lawrence, Dean DeKimberlen Neely, Dean Desiree Pedescleaux, Dr. Myra Burnett, Dr.Tinaz Pavri, Financial Aid Director Lenora Jackson, Dean Fran'Cee Brown-McClure, Robert Hamilton, Dan Bascelli, Helene Moon, and Shelly McDonald.

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