
Even when he was young, Dr. Damien Ennis favored the technological potential of home computers, which his father had adopted early. He wrote his first program at age 11. Computer Science (CS) fascinated him. During his second tenure at TMCC (following a stint in the Mathematics Department), he was confident the next generation of students would grasp the boundless, relevant processing power we use daily in our personal and professional lives. Computer scientists like Ennis develop and implement solutions that drive the digital world forward as technology expands its role in society and Northern Nevada.
Innovation is the Engine Driving Progress
At the forefront of Ennis’ college career, he studied several subjects to discover where his passions lay. After a deep dive into the dimensions of physics and engineering, he settled on an undergraduate degree in math. By its completion, he devoted his learning to computer science, landing his earliest legitimate job designing video slot games in Reno. After successfully earning his master’s, he spent roughly a decade coding various business software, gradually feeling a desire for a fresh challenge. Writing software in a cubicle had its rewards but became less engaging over time. His friends contacted him and encouraged him to relocate to TMCC, where his responsibilities would be far more rewarding.
“I was excellent at putting complex things into simple terms. I’m a guy who enjoys presentations. After my time in the Math Department, I received a strong offer to return as an engineer. So, I revisited being a software engineer for a couple of years. I heard they were looking for a CS instructor at TMCC and decided that might be the way,” said Ennis.
“I try to make my lectures engaging, but I don’t just stand at the front of the class the whole time—I involve students as much as possible. I introduce topics using the Socratic method, asking, ‘Why would you want to do this? What programming techniques might apply here?’ It works because students develop a toolkit of loops, functions, and other techniques. Then I can ask, ‘What pieces do you need to accomplish this task?’” continued Ennis.
Ennis shared how developing correct components from beginning to end while accurately mapping and executing them is gratifying. It dispels the staleness of number crunching, giving you organizational freedom. One seamless problem-solving algorithm becomes the evidence of your diligence. This smooth transition is the underlying drive as you brainstorm your path to a result. Even a spreadsheet program can be intriguing when you break it down into small, manageable steps that align with the lesson.
“A skill I motivate students to gain is examining a system in place and having a new understanding of those broken-down pieces, what this section of code does, and how to add something without dismantling it. Even engineering majors taking these classes will use computer science as a tool to augment whatever field they work in. Biologists could leverage it in a scientific study. Comfortableness with software development allows you to write a small program and evaluate your research. A step up from that would be a data analytics role. There will always be a new problem to solve or a product a company is trying to develop,” said Ennis.
Why Computer Science?
Ennis energetically stated how there’s a spectrum of career choices. Computer and information systems managers, software developers, and web administrators are lucrative positions in this field. Beyond traditional software development, cybersecurity and video game design are also swiftly rising within computer science. Last semester, Ennis assigned a project for his students to build a text-based adventure, capturing the attention of many and revealing talents they were previously unaware of. It ignited their imagination.
You wouldn’t know it, but Ennis is quite introverted. Educating is different than normal public speaking, though. He’s poised. He’s the expert. He examined how introverts learned versus extroverts, publishing his findings in the MathAMATYC Educator, a journal of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges. He’s also written papers on applying machine learning algorithms and data science methods to metagenomic and organizational domains.
Crossovers with math, economics, and biology are prominent. Almost every discipline interconnects with computer science to some degree. Take bioinformatics, another field in which Ennis earned a graduate degree. It involves vast amounts of genetic data, files, and statistical analysis—often requiring powerful supercomputers. Even the social sciences rely on statistics to enhance research findings.
Our computer science program integrates with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) to ensure a seamless transition for transfer students. With this in mind, we’ve adopted C++ as the core language to match their curriculum. Whether coding in Python, Java, or C++, you can be confident that the skills you gain here will prepare you for the next step – guided by experienced and dedicated professors like Ennis.
“At TMCC, people try to be creative and improve themselves. From a computer science perspective, academic computing is far less pressured than working in a cubicle. It’s a chance to engage with students and explore new ideas—one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching. The real strength of the job is when students suddenly see a path forward while enjoying the process.,” said Ennis.
The Future of AI
Ennis commented on the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) in curriculums, navigating it as a medium for receiving feedback rather than thwarting lessons.
“It can write code, but not in a way that someone unfamiliar with programming could easily exploit. It doesn’t work like that. You need to understand what you’re doing to guide it effectively. It’s great for generating boilerplate quickly—if I needed three functions, it could draft them efficiently, though not perfectly. Still, it’s a useful tool, and having that skill will be an asset from day one,” said Ennis.
“Here’s a little story—I play guitar and bass. Out of curiosity, I asked an AI to generate a bass tab. At first, I thought, ‘This isn’t half bad.’ But then I looked at its explanation, and it claimed the notes were entirely different from what was actually in the tab. There was a huge disconnect between what it generated and what it said it had produced—yet it presented the misinformation with complete confidence,” continued Ennis.
If you’re interested in a career in computer science, with many opportunities for growth and trajectory, contact the Computer Science and Technology Program for more information.