Charles James

About Charles James

I am Charles James Jr, a senior Computer Science major at the University of Florida with a minor in African American Studies and a strong interest in software engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. My academic journey actually started in criminology, and that background still shapes the way I think about risk, systems, and how technology can be used to prevent harm rather than just react to it. I have built a solid foundation in programming and core CS topics, including data structures and algorithms, operating systems, computer networks, databases, and software engineering. I work with Python, C++, JavaScript, TypeScript, SQL, and web technologies, as well as frameworks like React, Node, and Angular. In Summer 2024, I worked as a Software Engineering Intern at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, where I helped engineer internal software, automate CI and CD pipelines with Groovy and AWS, and optimize backend algorithms with PostgreSQL to improve performance and efficiency. That experience showed me how thoughtful engineering and automation can make a real impact in secure, high stakes environments. Outside of internships, I enjoy building tools that solve real problems for my communities. Some recent work includes a point system and event management platform using Google Apps Script and Google Sheets, a React based dream journal application with Firebase authentication, and automation for event workflows that reduced manual tracking and planning time. Leadership is also a major part of who I am. I served as Vice President of the University of Florida chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and I founded Trailblazers, a program that supports first year Black engineers through community, mentorship, and retention focused initiatives. These roles have strengthened my skills in communication, teamwork, and building systems that help people succeed. I am excited to keep growing as an engineer and to explore how my criminology background and CS training can come together in cybersecurity and secure software development. I am always open to connecting with students, professionals, and mentors who are passionate about technology, equity, and meaningful impact.

Experience

1. Member- Class of 2026

   Management Leadership For Tomorrow

   Oct 2023 — Present

Education

• Broward College

  Associate of Arts - AA

• College Academy At Broward College

  High School Diploma, High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates

• Boyd H Anderson High School

  High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates

• University of Florida

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Computer Science

  2022 — 2026