Originally from Afghanistan, Aftab Alam Masjidi’s journey reflects determination, resilience, and the transformative power of education. Now a senior Computer Science major with a concentration in Cybersecurity, Aftab’s early experiences studying by candlelight, tutoring younger children in English to help support his family, and painting murals that read “Peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice” shaped his belief that education is about more than learning; it’s about hope and survival.

His life changed when he earned the Barry Stamps Scholarship, one of the university’s most prestigious full-ride, merit-based awards. “Competing for such an award from a war-torn background was arduous,” he shared, “but it was my chance to show that potential exists everywhere.”

Since arriving at Barry, Aftab has excelled academically and personally, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, consistently earning a spot on the President’s List, and working part-time to support his family abroad. As the AI Center Specialist and Consultant at the university’s DX Lab, he designs learning modules, supports research, and mentors student researchers in artificial intelligence, emphasizing ethical and practical applications.

Aftab also founded the AI Society and the Muslim Students Association, creating communities that encourage collaboration, curiosity, and cultural understanding. He also mentors Afghan refugee youth through Sunday Discoveries, teaching them programming, AI concepts, and English literacy.

He marks his breakthrough moment as the time when his independent research on stock-market prediction using deep learning sparked a passion for AI-driven problem solving. The project was inspired by his ultimate goal: to design cybersecurity systems that can anticipate and prevent threats before they occur.

As graduation approaches, Aftab reflected on his journey with gratitude and purpose. Despite recent uncertainty with immigration policies, he remains hopeful about the future and is exploring opportunities to continue his graduate research in AI and Cybersecurity abroad.

“Barry University has given me the foundation to dream globally and the courage to use technology as a bridge between struggle and hope,” he said. “Every lab I enter, every line of code I write, and every student I mentor reflects what Barry stands for: education that transforms lives.”

Aftab’s story exemplifies Barry University’s dedication to helping students overcome challenges, inspire change, and live with purpose.