Rashna Neupane

By: Emily Lewis

There was no doubt that this decision would bring new opportunities, but leaving her family and culture would be the tough part. Rashna Neupane, 26 is an international student from Nepal.

“I was nervous and worried about being able to adjust well in a place where the lifestyle and society are completely different, now I can proudly say that joining this program at Radford University has been one of the best decisions of my life,” Neupane said.  

Neupane was born in a village on the outskirts of Palpa, Nepal and was raised in the capital city, Kathmandu.

While receiving her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology, Neupane managed her time and participated in software development workshops and worked as a computer programmer intern.

After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in 2014, Neupane worked as a Java programmer at an information technology industry.

While enhancing her professionalism with each new project, Neupane desired to further her education. While she was searching for graduate programs to suit her academic interest, Neupane learned about Radford’s Data and Information Management degree.

Neupane made it clear why she chose the DAIM program, “I was fascinated by the infrastructures and experiential opportunities that DAIM offers. What encouraged me to enroll in the program was the platform it provides to students to apply their skills in IT industries, giving opportunities to develop a strong network, and offering hands-on experience.”  

As Neupane left Nepal to live in the U.S., there were feelings of anxiousness and fear. Fortunately, Radford assisted her with this, “When I first arrived, the international office at the university assisted me with adapting to the change. The cooperative and friendly environment made me feel like I wasn’t in a new place”

Neupane indicated that although she was new to Radford, the friendly students, professors, and peaceful environment gave her comfort.

During her first year of the DAIM program, Neupane worked as a graduate teaching assistant for an introductory level IT class at Radford. She was then offered two positions outside of the university and now works as an application development intern at InteractiveGIS, Inc. in Blacksburg, Va.

Although Neupane has not officially decided what she would like to do after graduation, she hopes to stay in the Blacksburg area for a few years to gain more experience and eventually move back to Nepal.

Neupane’s advice to students considering the DAIM program, “I believe DAIM will open doors to help you achieve your career goals and build a strong foundation to shape your future. This program would be the best choice to form your career and it would truly be a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone to pursue their academics at Radford University.”