Posted on April 24, 2025 by College of Sciences
#UTSAGrad25
Laura Barnes, Computer Science Major and Mathematics of Data and Computing Major
By Ryan Schoensee
Meet Laura Barnes, a senior from Dallas, Texas, who is graduating from the College of Sciences this spring with double majors in computer science and mathematics of data and computing.
From the moment Laura stepped foot on the UTSA Main Campus, she felt destined to become a Roadrunner.
"It immediately felt like home," she said. "I knew it was where I belonged as soon as I visited.
This strong sense of belonging propelled Laura towards an academic journey filled with leadership, service and exploration.
As a freshman, Laura quickly immersed herself in the university's computer science community. She served as both vice president and president of Rowdy Creators, an organization where students gain access to experiential learning opportunities by collaborating on tech projects throughout a semester.
Laura is also currently the secretary of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and has competed in multiple hackathons—one of which turned into a business venture through an incubator hosted by Geekdom, a coworking community for startups based in San Antonio.
Starting in high school, Laura was interested in studying computer science and discovered the mathematics of data and computing curriculum as a Roadrunner. She loves how versatile her areas of study are, offering potential careers from software engineering and video game development to data science and cybersecurity.
Among her favorite courses was an artificial intelligence class taught by Ramin Sahba, assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Computer Science. Laura describes the class as challenging but deeply rewarding and now considers herself to be well educated on the topic of AI.
"The list of possible careers with my majors is infinite and they taught me how to think programmatically," said Laura. "They offer flexibility that I feel not many other degrees have, which makes them a great choice!"
Outside of working with 0s and 1s, Laura also manages to dedicate time to give back. In December 2023, she participated in an Alternative Break Experience in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she volunteered with nonprofit organizations as part of a service-learning experience that focused on youth advocacy.
As a student in the Honors College, Laura also had the chance to explore disciplines outside her major. One stand-out experience was a course on Canoeing, Paddle Making, and Embodied Ecology where she learned about woodworking, built and used her own paddle, and studied rivers and ecology. "It taught me how fun woodworking can be and sparked my interest in volunteering to clean up rivers."
Outside of the opportunities to pursue new interests and grow professionally, what stands out most to Laura about UTSA is the culture. "UTSA is different from other universities due to the friendliness of the student body, unique location, and attentive professors," Laura said. "It truly lives up to its mission of being 'urban serving' by making it easy to thrive with plentiful opportunities that allow students to find their perfect fit."
For prospective students considering UTSA, Laura offers this advice: "Just do it! Coming to UTSA has absolutely changed my life for the better, and I do not think I would have had the same experience at another school."
— College of Sciences
