Michael Soltys, Program Chair and Professor of Computer Science
by Zoe Lance
While we know Amazon as the worldâs online marketplace, millions of international companies know it for its cloud computing services. They use Amazon Web Services (AWS) to store and access data over the internet, allowing us to easily stream our favorite shows, store files and shop online. As more and more companies turn to AWS for technology needs, computer science students will need to quickly learn how to use the platform so they can market themselves post-graduation.
Michael Soltys, Professor and Chair of Computer Science at CSUCI, has been ahead of the curve. In the last two years, he has laid the foundation for CSUCI courses and a strong partnership with the company.
In addition to being an AWS cloud architect and official ambassador, he has led the Computer Science program to being an approved member of the AWS Academy and part of the AWS Educate Initiative. Soltys sees this initiative as an extension of CSUCIâs role in the Ventura County region.
âI always want our students to get the best jobs, and I think some of the best jobs are in âthe cloudâ right now,â Soltys said. âIn our partnership, they really like how we have designed our curriculum and how we are quick, innovative and nimble. Our ability to meet them at their pace was what created the successful synergy between CSUCI and AWS.â
Soltys became interested in cloud computing as a research interest, and studied on his own for the cloud architect certification. In looking deeper at the impact of AWS in the business world, he discovered that employers wanted all types of new hires â not just computer scientists â to be familiar with the technology. This spurred him to develop coursework and volunteer as an official ambassador for teaching other faculty.
"I always want our students to get the best jobs, and I think some of the best jobs are in âthe cloudâ right now."
âI studied very hard for several months, and that showed me that this is really something that can and should be taught at the University and made available to students. Itâs hard, but important and extremely useful,â Soltys said.
In April 2020, he worked with AWS to record a lecture on online teaching â distributed by AWS as a webinar with question-and-answer sessions â helping faculty to meet the challenge of COVID-19.
âThey provide the cloud infrastructure where a lot of online teaching happens, and now they have cloud ambassadors like myself helping others in teaching online,â Soltys said.
His students are up for the challenge of learning about the platform. His winter class in AWS cloud foundations was full with a waitlist, and this summerâs class in AWS web development is filling fast.
âThe students realize that this is a really important component of their future careers, to be well versed in this technology and this new paradigm of doing things,â Soltys said.
Since becoming program chair in 2014, Soltys has been instrumental in creating many new opportunities for students across the University and at the forefront of his discipline. This year, he was appointed to Governor Gavin Newsomâs cyber security task force, joining a group across the state in developing cybersecurity curriculum for kindergarten to graduate students.
âCybersecurity is becoming such an important issue for both the private and the pub