Alumnus and master's student inspired by support received from SCSU

Osama Chishti was already working in his field of study for years, but returned to St. Cloud State University when he decided there was more to learn.

He earned his bachelor's in management information systems from SCSU in 2021. While on campus he was part of the International Students Association, president of the Pakistan Student Association and vice president of the Muslim Students Association. Following graduation he joined the workforce in the financial realm of his industry.

"I got a job in the same field, started working, got my hands-on experience. And then I thought, 'Maybe it's time I brush up on more of those skills and get a deeper dive into what I have already studied,'" he said. "That's when I started applying for my master's degree, and I enrolled at St. Cloud State University for my master's program in information assurance."

Chishti is set to complete his master's in spring 2027, and as a graduate student is currently the secretary for SCSU's Information Systems Club.

"I'm really excited for what SCSU had to offer for my master's program. The whole journey was wonderful. Literally, it was the easiest transition of coming back to school," he said. "You know how hard it is, when you're already done with your degree and then you have to start back again. But it was a really easy process for me."

Data has long been a key component for Chishti when it comes to his chosen fields of study.

"Everybody is so particular about how they store their data, who they share their data with. What I'm studying is how to protect a consumer's data, how to protect a company's data and things like that. Artificial intelligence is so heavily involved in every task you do, so part of my focus is on how everybody uses that," he said. "I focus on data security, data protection, AI uses — all of that. I work as a compliance analyst for a law firm, so that really resonates with how to make sure that regulations and everything are intact in the workplace and how to protect consumers data. I work closely with all the financial regulations."

In the future, Chishti is interested in potentially pursuing opportunities to work in the health care field.

"That is something I see as not just job security but also so professionally motivating and rewarding," he said. "Because at the end of the day, you're working on something that saves lives — a lot of lives."

As he approaches the end of his graduate program, Chishti has been looking back on his experiences at SCSU and the faculty and staff who have helped him along the way. He credits Dr. Jim Chen with helping him through both his bachelor's and master's coursework.

"He has helped me not just understand the basic concepts, but also show me what career paths would be really beneficial for me with the master's degree and how to carefully pick the courses," Chishti said. "There are so many good courses you can pick from — even when you're doing your master's — so he really set up that pathway for me for success."

Chishti said his advisor Dr. Lynn Collen has been instrumental in his education journey as well.

"She has been wonderful with getting back to me with courses, registration, helping me navigate through my internships, how to get the paperwork done quickly," Chishti said. "She's always on top of that line of communication."

Professors who are SCSU alumni have been integral to Chishti as well, including Dr. Hazem Farra ’04, ’19 and Dr. Abdullah Abu Hussein.

"They were students at St. Cloud State University, and now they're professors there, so they know how the process goes," Chishti said. "That's how they guide you through, like, 'Hey, I was a student once here, too. I understand how to navigate through and what difficulties you might be having.' Those two professors really helped me decide what should be the next path for me in terms of courses."

Chishti also credited Chee Moua-Yang and Jason Terres with SCSU's Center for International Studies, who have assisted Chishti with paperwork processing and internship opportunities over the years.

In addition to the academic support he's received as a student, Chishti said the philanthropic support has been paramount to his educational journey.

"When you're at St. Cloud State and you're studying — or regardless of whichever university you're at — it's hard managing life because you're working, you're taking your classes; it's hard to manage everything. While there are multiple scholarship programs offered, there are donor-supported Huskies Scholarships. Those are a really great opportunity to apply for," he said. "Receiving those scholarships helps you pay off your student loans or this balance you have on your account. It sets you on a pathway for success. With that support, I can invest more time in developing technical skills, pursuing research opportunities and preparing for a career in cybersecurity. Those contributions not only support my education, but also motivate me to give back and make a positive impact in my community and profession.

"I have shared the scholarship opportunities with a lot of current students I went through my master's classes with. Because, if I can benefit from something, why not share it with the rest of my fellow students? It has been a wonderful opportunity and I'm really thankful for St. Cloud State — for the education it's provided me and for the support that has been given by the university."