Brandywine Alumni Spotlight: Himani Vommi, class of 2022

MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State alumna Himani Vommi, class of 2022, is thriving as a software engineer two years post-graduation.

Vommi began her Penn State journey at Brandywine in 2018, majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations and minoring in computer science. She chose to attend Brandywine because of the small campus feel and the appeal of receiving a Penn State education close to home.

“I really liked the idea of having a community that was very close-knit, and I also really liked the idea of being able to create long-lasting relationships with other students, faculty and staff,” she said. “Beyond that, the campus was really close to home, and it offered so many opportunities like the Schreyer Honors College and the Cooper Honors program. Once I actually set foot on campus, everything really just clicked for me. I fell in love with it immediately.”

Vommi was very involved during her time at Brandywine, participating in the Multicultural Club and serving as the president of the Computer and Technology Club and the co-chair of the Brandywine Events and Activities Student Team (B.E.A.S.T.). She said her favorite memory was during her term as co-chair of B.E.A.S.T. when she and other students attended the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities Conference, otherwise known as APCA.

“During my fourth year, I went to APCA with a few other student leaders in Hershey. During that week, we would go to different student leadership events, and we would see a lot of different people showcasing what they do and what kind of events they could bring to campus,” she said.

“It was cool to be able to not only go there as a student to enjoy the amazing skills and talents people have to offer but also as a recruiter to see if we should bring some of these people from the conference to Brandywine. It was a lot of fun, and I made a lot of incredible memories in the process.”

During her third year, Vommi secured a software engineering internship at Lockheed Martin, an aerospace and defense company. Once she graduated in May 2022, she was brought onto the team full time. As a software engineer, she writes telecommunication software for planes, assists with cybersecurity compliance, and reviews military-standard requirements. She notes that her favorite part of her job is having the ability to try so many different things.

“I’ve been working with the software team since 2020, and I’ve been very vocal about doing cybersecurity since coming on the team full time. I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to try that out and have the opportunity to do that,” she said. “There’s so much to learn from all the different programs and projects that my job offers. In the process, I’ve learned exponentially the amount I would’ve been able to gather on my own.”

When asked what advice she would give to current Penn State students, Vommi emphasized the importance of getting involved.

“Get involved during your time at Penn State. Find your community, however big or small it is, and get involved in some way,” she said.

She also noted how important it is to establish good relationships with faculty members because they will help you grow as a professional and as a person.

“Also, try to establish good relationships with your professors, because for me, that’s one of the greatest things that’s happened to me in terms of my personal and professional development. Surround yourself with people who are motivated and people who want to see you succeed.”