Full Speed Ahead–Wi-Fi Improvements
Nothing beats firsthand experience. Just ask Joshua Tendo. Positioned to graduate in 2021, Tendo, an IT major, appreciates that his IT internship will give him that extra edge when he enters the job market. “Once you have your degree and start looking for a job, you need something that makes you stand out from other applicants,” he says. “Employers look for experience. Speaking for myself, the experience I’m gaining working for IT is more valuable than a degree. It’s priceless.”
Not surprisingly, Tendo’s priceless experience is equally valuable to Senior Network Engineer Azadeh Aslani, Tendo’s supervisor. In turn, his contributions are appreciated by members of the UMass Boston community. “During one of our busiest times on campus,” says Aslani, “we received multiple calls dealing with wireless issues—access, speed, coverage—and we didn’t have the resources to keep up with the demand.” Students rely on and appreciate quick and easy access to the internet.
As fate would have it, at the same time an IT network class participated in a tour around the Data Center coordinated by Jamie Soule, manager of IT Operations. At the end of the tour, Tendo approached Aslani and senior information security specialist Alison Murray to ask about the possibility of an IT internship. The result? A collaboration between Aslani and Murray that would create a shared internship between networking and security.
The timing couldn’t have been better for Aslani. Networking had multiple and immediate needs. Aslani proceeded to train Tendo on how to conduct a wireless on-site survey using the Wi-Fi Improvements different techniques and tools used by IT engineers. “Joshua picked up things quickly,” says Aslani. “He’s a talented, passionate student employee.”
“As wireless issues come through the ticketing system, I go to wherever those issues are,” says Tendo. “I talk with the people having the issue, find out exactly what’s happening.” Tendo then uses the tools at his disposal to figure out the problem and find a solution.
Problems, he said, could be something as simple as needing extra access points in an area. At other times, perhaps existing access points are interfering with each other. Sometimes a department has moved to a new location, so there are more people working in an area. That means more access points are needed.
The challenges are endless; the solutions, always at hand. Tendo was also instrumental in solving a “spotty bad wi-fi connection” detailed in a ticket from the office of Environmental Health and Safety.
“Joshua promptly made a visit and found out the department had put a new wireless printer in the area,” says Aslani. “This printer was broadcasting on the same channel as our wireless network. Joshua explained the situation professionally and made it clear that we do not allow wireless printing on campus because of the interference with our wi-fi coverage.”
Bottom line, says Aslani, “Joshua is thirsty to learn. He’s a smart student, and we are happy to have him as a valuable asset in our department. This is a win-win situation—for him and for the whole UMass Boston community.