Dallas College

Student Experience: Maris Rodriguez

Maris Rodriguez was a high school dropout and didn’t think she had much of a future. Because of Dallas College and the STEM Institute, Maris has been rejuvenated with life and is now pursuing a dream of working for NASA. Maris recently was part of the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program at the Ames Research Center in California. Now, with a Dallas College associate degree in hand, Maris is transferring to the University of Texas to continue her educational journey and further chase her NASA dreams.

“My dream job is to be a mathematician at NASA, so I can help with science exploration and study unknown phenomena,” she said. Maris is currently in the NASA L’SPACE Program, which is designed for STEM students interested in pursuing a career with NASA or other space organizations.

“Dallas College not only gave me a second chance at an education and career, but it gave me a second chance at life,” Maris said. “I want to inspire people with my story and to never doubt yourself.”


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Michael Gutierrez

Michael Gutierrez

Engineering Student
“The community here was the biggest surprise. People often assume community colleges are places where students leave right after class, but Dallas College is full of connection, involvement and interesting people.”
Engineering
An illustration of a person's head

James C. Woodall

Quality Assurance Director and Graphics Artist Blind Mind Studios
“I would recommend this program for students wanting to rub shoulders with industry giants, those who hunger to develop professional games, and those who are curious about whether their skill-set fits with the gaming industry.”
Interactive Simulation and Game Technology (Game Design)
Neethu Kuriakose

Neethu Kuriakose M., EdTech

Data Entry Clerk, Dallas County Immunization/Medical Records Division; Adjunct Faculty, Computer Science and Information Technology
“I strongly recommend Dallas College for anyone who wants to take classes with affordable tuition, and who might like to work on campus while being a student.”
Computer Information Technology
Scott Sengbush

Scott Sengbush

Game Producer Game Circus
“I have been a gamer for as long as I can remember, so I decided to pursue a career in gaming. I took a 3D animation class in the Summer and fell in love with it instantly.”
Interactive Simulation and Game Technology (Game Design)
Portrait photo of Maris Rodriguez
Maris Rodriguez
Transfer Student, University of Texas
Mathematics (Math)
School of Engineering, Technology, Mathematics and Sciences
Updated September 22, 2026