March 18, 2026
With so many resources at Pitt to choose from, it’s helpful for students to have a reliable network to help them navigate the college experience – and that’s where connections to alumni and industry partners become transformative.
One example are ties between SCI, the SCI Alumni Board, and CGI, one of the school’s corporate partners. In recent years, over 50 SCI students have engaged with CGI through internships, early career roles, and networking events, with 32 of those students ultimately joining CGI in full-time positions.
As an alum, chair of the SCI Alumni Board, and Director of Consulting Services at CGI, Tony DeLuca (CS ’95) knows the impact of these connections first-hand.
“One particularly strong example is a CGI Partner who first connected with the firm as an SCI student through multiple internships,” DeLuca said. “After interning at CGI three times, they joined full time following graduation and have since become one of CGI’s most significant contributors, both internally and in delivering value to clients.”
This type of career growth is a direct result of the close relationship between SCI and CGI, which provides students with early exposure, mentorship, and real-world experience while giving CGI access to highly motivated, well-prepared talent from SCI.
In his role on the SCI Alumni Board, DeLuca is also uniquely positioned to speak on alumni involvement with the school.
From mentorship and serving on advisory boards to collaborating on corporate partnerships, there are ways for all alumni to stay engaged.
The SCI Alumni Board in particular places an emphasis on networking and career readiness through initiatives like the SCI Mentorship Program. The program creates meaningful, long-term relationships between SCI alumni and students which helps students to make informed decisions about their careers and approach graduation with confidence.
“From a mentor’s perspective, the impact is mutual,” DeLuca said. “Alumni also gain fresh perspective, renewed connection to SCI, and the opportunity to meaningfully shape the next generation of technologists.”
Trusted connections are crucial in any industry, and as Pittsburgh continues to become a hub for technology, SCI students are able to leverage their alumni networks to even greater benefit, like with industry partners such as CGI.
Community service and engagement is a core value for CGI, one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world. The ‘Meet the Consultants’ event is a favorite for both SCI and CGI. About 20 CGI Partners come to campus for a full day of engaging with SCI students through mock interviews, resume reviews, informal networking, and industry panels. Other programs also reinforce CGI’s commitment to purpose-driven work.
“Initiatives like the CGI Innovate IT Challenge reflect our belief that technology should be a force for positive impact,” Deb Mohapatra, a Senior Vice President and business unit leader at CGI, said. “By engaging students, nonprofits, and our own consultants in solving real-world problems, we help develop practical skills while supporting organizations that serve the community.”
For Mohapatra and CGI, “success isn’t measured only by business outcomes, but by the meaningful contributions we make to the communities where we live and work”.
Those connections to the Pitt community are strong, as many CGI leaders and partners have strong ties to the SCI alumni community, having either started their careers at CGI or joined later because of its strong presence in the region.
“In fact, my own introduction to CGI was the result of staying connected with a former SCI classmate through the alumni network: an example of how these relationships can directly translate into meaningful professional opportunities,” DeLuca said.
Strong relationships between industry and universities are beneficial because they ultimately form an ideal cycle: students are better prepared, organizations are stronger, and regions benefit from a more capable, engaged, and future-ready workforce.
SCI students not only benefit from CGI’s on-campus events, but their overall mission to leverage both a global and local presence, aligning with SCI’s mission to transform the world for a better digital future, from our community to the world.
“By building relationships with Pitt/SCI students, CGI is able to grow our presence in the region, invest in the next generation of technologists and consultants, and help keep top talent engaged and working in Pittsburgh as they begin and develop their careers,” DeLuca added.
Mohapatra also noted the value of CGI and SCI’s partnership, and Pittsburgh’s unique combination of world-class universities, tech ecosystem, and history of reinvention.
“In my leadership role, my goal is to continue strengthening CGI’s presence by investing in local talent, deepening partnerships with academic institutions, deepening strategic partnerships with alliance partners and supporting clients who are driving digital transformation across industries,” Mohapatra said.
Digital transformation across industries is something many SCI students have their eyes on as they focus on career readiness. With the expertise at CGI, Mohapatra has some key insights to SCI students thinking about artificial intelligence (AI) and changing industries.
“AI is rapidly becoming a powerful tool across nearly every industry, but it doesn’t replace the need for strong fundamentals—it reinforces it,” Mohapatra said. “Recent graduates can expect to work alongside AI-enabled tools that accelerate development, improve decision-making, and automate routine tasks.”
Mohapatra is ready to reassure SCI students that they have access to a diverse set of career paths, and that AI is a facet of a broader tech landscape.
“A solid foundation in computer science, understanding algorithms, data structures, systems, and software design, remains critical,” he continued. “At CGI, we value lifelong learning and provide opportunities for consultants to evolve their careers as technologies, and their interests, change over time.”
Learn more about the SCI Mentorship Program and explore career opportunities at CGI.