Alumni guests and Dr. Syed Ali Haider (far left).
Students were treated to an inspiring talk as alumni returned to campus for a talk on AI integration technologies.
The alumni work at Paychex in Rochester, NY. The session, organized for the Software Engineering class taught by Dr. Syed Ali Haider, was also advertised across the department for broader participation. Students from other classes also joined the talk, as well as various members of the faculty.
Guests included Thaddeus “Thad” Wojcik, ʼ99 (Psychology); Maddie Barlow, ʼ23 (Computer Science); Adam Johnson, ʼ22 (Computer Information Systems); and Jared Russell, ʼ24 (Computer Science and Music), each now contributing to Paychex’s technology initiatives. They walked the students through real-world AI integration strategies, and shared examples using typical workflows, discussed the challenges faced, and emphasized the importance of strong engineering fundamentals in an era of rapid technological change. A Q&A session following the talk was also very engaging. The alumni discussed the best practices and where the industry is headed. Students and faculty members asked thoughtful questions which were answered candidly by the alumni.
Dr. Haider noted that what made the event especially meaningful was the sense of continuity. Graduates who once sat in the same classrooms were now practitioners guiding the next generation. Their stories, technical insight and career reflection, offered students a glimpse of what’s possible after Fredonia.
Three students are currently working with a team from Paychex for their Software Project class which is conducted in collaboration with Paychex. Students gain experience on real-life projects from the company under the mentorship of Fredonia faculty and project teams at the company.
Haider added that events such as this continue to strengthen the department’s connection with Paychex and highlight the impact Fredonia graduates are making in the region’s tech landscape.
