26

Cheyanne Allred-Lopez

M.S. in Data Science, '26

As a military spouse, adaptability isn't optional; it’s essential. You quickly learn that plans, locations and timelines change, often with little notice. For me, adapting meant making the bold decision to walk away from my career as a chemical engineer and go back to school to pursue a master's in data science. It wasn't the easiest path, but it was the right one, and I'm so grateful that I chose it. My career opportunities really began to expand here at UWF once I reached out to the Career Development and Community Engagement office.

I had originally reached out to the CDCE last spring in the hopes of finding a summer internship. Assistant Director Brittany Fryska actively listened to my needs and encouraged me to take every opportunity seriously. When I casually mentioned an Amazon recruiter had reached out through Handshake about software development engineering roles specifically for military spouses, Brittany encouraged me to lean into the opportunity. With her guidance, I tailored my resume for the role, prepared for weeks for the technical interview and ultimately received an offer for an internship in the summer of 2025 in New York City. That internship pushed me both professionally and personally, and it eventually led to a full-time conversion offer from Amazon. With their Remote Work Exception policy for military spouses, I can continue to build my career no matter where my husband’s service takes our family – something that once felt almost impossible to imagine.

Needing flexibility is what brought me back to school. It’s what brought me to that advising office. But it was the education, the guidance and the support that I found at UWF that helped me see what I was truly capable of. As a military spouse, change is inevitable, but learning to lean into it rather than resist has transformed my entire trajectory with a new field and career I’m truly proud of.