Written by RJ Dobbins, DSU Heritage Foundation Student Intern
It is always amazing to hear success stories of Dickinson State University (DSU) alumni. Aparna Subramanian graduated from DSU in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics. She now works for DCN (Dakota Carrier Network) and was recently named to Prairie Business’ 40 Under 40 list for 2020.
This list is made to highlight young professionals for their outstanding work and impact on their communities. Subramanian was selected as one of the 40 recipients out of over 100 applicants. “I am honored to be nominated by my company as they work with me day in and day out and know me for both my strengths and weaknesses. Then to be selected alongside so many talented individuals is, of course, humbling and a huge honor,” stated Subramanian.
This incredible journey started very far away in India where Subramanian was born. In 1999, she and her family moved to the United States. She graduated from Dickinson High School just a few years after moving. She knew as early as the sixth grade that she wanted to focus on computer science going forward. She always marked computer engineer on the career surveys she was presented with, despite not knowing what that meant. In her junior year of high school, she decided that computer science was the degree she wanted.
In the fall of 2004, Subramanian enrolled as a freshman at DSU after taking some college credits while in high school. The scholarships she earned from both the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) and the Global Awareness Award made the financial burden easy on her since her visa at the time did not allow her to work. According to Subramanian, “TRHLP made the choice academically interesting.” She plunged headfirst into the world of DSU, joining Student Senate, Student Ambassadors, International Club, and the Homecoming Committee. She even pushed further in TRHLP, sitting as a member of their Executive Committee. In TRHLP, she made many friends that lasted throughout her four years and some that have lasted further beyond. She took full advantage of all the opportunities available and presented at both the Upper Midwest Honors Conference and the National Collegiate Honors Conference. One of her computer science professors, Myron Berg, stated, “I was impressed with her ability to make presentations.”
Subramanian’s time at DSU was not just focused on academics. She always enjoyed the school spirit and energy that explodes on campus during Homecoming. The time she spent with her friends in the Student Center eating way too much cereal is a memory that she still carries to this day. Friendships were a big part of her time at DSU. She stated, “I cherish the friendships I made, especially those that have lasted beyond college.”
Subramanian started her journey in the career world as a network technician at Consolidated Telcom in Dickinson. In 2014, she joined Dakota Carrier Network (DCN) as an ethernet/IP technician II in Bismarck, North Dakota. DCN is a fiber-optic network owned by 14 different internet-providing companies, which serve more than 164,000 customers. Three years of hard work in that position earned her the promotion to a systems engineer. In that position she oversees product development, sales engineering, information security, and sits on the network engineering team.
That is a lot of responsibility for one person, but Subramanian has her education to back her up. “[It] has provided me a solid foundation going into a technical and analytical field,” she said. There are many other certifications that she has worked toward, requiring a range of one to four written and practical exams. Her degree has also helped with those. “While technology itself changes quickly, it seems that having a strong foundation in the basics is essential to building new skills,” she explained. Her leadership minor from TRHLP sparked her interest in many leadership roles. According to her, “[It] helped teach me how I can often lead as a team member or individual contributor even without an explicit leadership role or title.”
Away from work, Subramanian tries to limit her time spent on technology. She enjoys training for and running half marathons. “I really love the stress relief aspect of running,” she said. She also loves to spend time with her friends and son, Dylan, who is currently seven. She loves being able to watch him grow into his own personality. She is incredibly proud of her son, and the ability she has gained to push herself out of her comfort zone. “I used to struggle with taking risks but [I] have become more courageous over time when it comes to venturing into unknown territory,” she explained.
In the future, Subramanian plans to increase her knowledge in the areas of cybersecurity and technology management, as well as finish her self-challenge of reading 52 books in 52 weeks. Her continual motivation to keep pushing forward is found though her family. According to her, “I owe it to myself and my loved ones to become the best that I can be and make the best of the opportunities and resources I am fortunate to have.”
Being a Blue Hawk means something different to everyone. Subramanian sees it as the community around DSU that encapsulates what it means to be a Blue Hawk. She elaborated, “Being a Blue Hawk represents a close-knit college community, good friendships, and plenty of resources and opportunities – whether they are scholarships, academic resources, career opportunities and internships, or getting involved through clubs and organizations.”
