Christopher Bischof: Never too old to learn
Graduate Profile
Seeking a career change, Chris Bischof came to Governors State University (GovState) to earn a master’s degree in Information Technology (IT). While he's switching from architecture to IT, Chris continues to follow his interest in building safe spaces.
As a husband and father, Chris appreciated that GovState allowed him to pursue his new passion without distracting from his family and job. It also gave him the opportunity to show his children that life doesn’t follow one set path.
GovState Newsroom: What attracted you to GovState?
Chris: The University has an incredible program that allows flexibility for those who are currently working while attempting to achieve their goals.
GovState Newsroom: What’s your degree and why did you choose it?
Chris: The degree I am seeking is a Master of Science in Information Technology. This is my second career path after being in the architectural profession for over a decade—I love to build things and a degree in information technology allows me to explore and “build” in the physical and virtual world. With an emphasis in cybersecurity, I have found my passion in creating secure environments which requires constant adaptation to a fluid and dynamic profession.
GovState Newsroom: What clubs and/or activities were you involved with? Any memories stick out with one of them?
Chris: I participated in the Cybersecurity Club, which participated in the Midwest Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition over the past two years. My fondest memory is when we were able to sustain and protect the network for over five hours of continuous hacking and attacks. This more than doubled the previous year’s goal.
GovState Newsroom: What are your dreams for your degree?
Chris: The dream for my master’s degree is to build upon existing skills and acclimate to the newer technologies to understand the security challenges that they create and how to secure them.
GovState Newsroom: What goal have you achieved that felt really far away your first semester at GovState?
Chris: My goal was to achieve a master’s degree by age 50 to show my children you are never too old to learn. At the beginning, it didn’t seem possible, but through the support and encouragement of my wife and kids, I have achieved it.
GovState Newsroom: How are you celebrating your graduation?
Chris: I will be attending the graduation ceremony with my family. We will be celebrating afterwards by taking a well-deserved vacation.