Kiante Brantley, peer mentor in computer science, to pursue Ph.D. in machine learning  

Published: Apr 25, 2016

(Kiante Brantley. Photo by Marlayna Demond '11 for UMBC.)

Kiante Brantley
Plans: Ph.D. in Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park
M.S., Computer Science
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

UMBC has prepared me for my next goals in life, both academically and professionally. A person’s environment has a huge impact on helping them achieve their goals. UMBC’s environment has provided me with a very enriching atmosphere to help me explore my interest in data science.

Kiante Brantley ’15, computer science, began his college career at the Community College of Baltimore County before coming to UMBC, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in just two years as a participant in the NSF-funded Transfer Scholars in Information Technology and Engineering (T-SITE) program. Brantley has continued on to complete his M.S. in computer science in one year, and he is now preparing to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science, with a focus on machine learning, at the University of Maryland, College Park.

As a highly successful, driven, self-directed learner, Brantley has become a role model for transfer students and computer majors from underrepresented groups. He credits UMBC with helping prepare him for his next set of goals, both academically and professionally.

Through high-level coursework, lab research, and mentoring opportunities, Brantley has cultivated both technical skills in computer science, machine learning, and data science, and soft skills in public speaking and professional writing. He has given back to the T-SITE community as a mentor for transfer students pursuing computer science degrees.

Brantley currently works at the U.S. Department of Defense, which he plans to continue through his Ph.D. studies.

Image: Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

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