York Students Visit Google’s NYC Office with Computer Science Faculty

The name "Google" evokes excitement, innovation, and limitless possibilities. So, it was a thrill when the company’s Manhattan location invited York students, faculty, and staff for a visit.

^{Computer Science students, faculty and Career Services staff pause for a photo at the iconic Google logo during a recent visit.}

On November 11, 19 students, accompanied by faculty from York’s Mathematics and Computer Science Department and staff from the Office of Career Services, had the opportunity to experience the dynamic environment at Google’s office at 76 9th Ave. As both a noun and a verb, "Google" has reshaped 21st-century life, and this visit may have had a similar impact on the students.

The partnership between York College and Google has existed for about five years, according to Ms. Linda Hand, Director of the Office of Career Services. “It was a pleasure working with the faculty on this project with Google,” she said. “Career Services has collaborated with Google on a variety of events, from on-campus visits to career fairs and workshops. I look forward to continuing this relationship with both the Computer Science faculty and Google.” 

Before the visit to Google, representative Lucitania Hernandez and her team organized two workshops for York’s Computer Science majors. The first, the “Clean Code Workshop,” had 31 students taking part, while 50 students participated in the “Building Your Technical Career Workshop” a week later on October 29.

Adjunct Professor Alvaro Restrepo, who joined the visit, recalled that “Google rolled out the red carpet for York students on November 11.” He continued: “There was a Q&A panel on Google internships, led by Vincent Chang, Technical Program Manager, and two high-level Google employees.”

Professor Restrepo noted that the “Googlers” shared their experiences working at Google, discussed the benefits and expectations of the company, and provided valuable insights into the internship application process. “They explained how these internships can be a stepping stone to some of the best job opportunities in the world,” he said.

Dr. Abu Kamruzzaman, Assistant Professor in York’s Department of Business and Economics, also participated in the visit. “Google has all the mechanisms in place to make the workplace enjoyable and friendly,” he said. “The team was enthusiastic, energetic, and innovative. We even met two CUNY graduates working at Google, thanks to Dr. Radoslaw Wojciechowski, who introduced us to his PhD colleague from the CUNY Graduate Center.”

One memorable moment from the visit stood out to Professor Kamruzzaman: “I still remember when a student asked about current job trends, and Google’s response was ‘Gemini,’ referring to AI. This is something we, as academics, can leverage to teach our students about AI.” He added, “My S-STEM mentees have been working on a project called YorkGPT, inspired by Gemini/ChatGPT, for the past year to benefit the York community. The York team will be showcasing this project at the CUNY IT Conference.”

The following CS majors also shared their experience:

Darryl Nurse, CS Major and S-STEM scholar:

The Google trip was a real eye opener! Seeing and experiencing the environment that such a prestigious company fosters was not only inspiring, but also very enticing. Insight into the work of the Googlers was invaluable - knowing of the obstacles they've overcome in their journey, and the paths they continue to chart day-to-day was great motivation for those who strive to be `Googlers.` I think all of us want to work there now.

Farhan Rabbi, CS Major and S-STEM scholar:

The Google trip was so great and informative for me. I learned a lot from this event. Before I didn’t have that much knowledge about Google. Now, I have lot of information about Google and if I want to apply there, I know what steps I need to follow and what requirements I need. Also, I met some people who are currently working there and they shared their experience.

Haider Ali, CS Major and S-STEM scholar:

Growing up I’ve always used Google.com to search things that sparked my interest, but finally going into the Google office and seeing behind the scenes on how it’s built and what the people do, really sparked my interest in working there as a Googler. The atmosphere is great and the people are kind. It definitely seems like a place one would strive for in order to be a part of a problem-solving team that works hard to complete amazing tasks. I hope to get the opportunity to be a Googler one day.

Nadia Vasco, CS Major:

Visiting Google was eye-opening. Their work environment seems really relaxed yet productive. Seeing how they blend comfort with innovation makes me eager to work there someday. It's inspiring to see a workplace that values both creativity and results.

Kyame J. Israel, CS Major:

It was a great experience, being a college student at Google campus is the equivalent of being a child at Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. So many floors to explore and so much to do.