Matthew Alan Shaffer – BS in Computer Science, class of 2010

Since Graduation: 

• Matthew earned his MS in Computer Science from the University of Washington in 2022
• Was part of the first cohort for Microsoft Software and Systems Academy, a transitioning pipeline for veterans to get into the technology space. 
• Has worked since 2014 as a software engineer at Microsoft
• Was recognized as the 2025 Jax State Young Alum of the Year

I can name numerous experiences during my time at JSU where I’ve had the “Aha Moment” -- a better understanding of what software engineering is and the power it is capable of: In CS 230 with Mrs. Jensen, writing our first "Hello World!" program; learning about atomic data types and sorting/search algorithms; using common libraries to build GUI programs; seeing how with software programming we can tie different assets and file types together to build a game in Dr. Thorton's Game Design Courses; realizing that Calculus and Linear Algebra build a foundation that is crucial to understanding how Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence work. My time at JSU prepared me for the opportunities that got me into my current position, and I'm forever grateful for my time I spent there.