When Curtis Roberts was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1985, he enrolled in a degree program at Strayer University, but career and personal responsibilities often caused him to delay his studies. Within a few years, however, he set his sights on becoming the first of his siblings to earn a college degree.
Roberts enrolled at Strayer University’s Alexandria Campus and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and a master’s degree in information science while working full time and raising four children.
Roberts, 59, received Strayer University’s Outstanding Alumnus Award during the University’s June 26 commencement at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
After receiving his master’s degree, Roberts became eligible to apply for the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Science Information Technology Fellowship Program due to his work history, academic success and extracurricular activities. The Fellowship taught him how to formulate information technology in all levels of the federal government and led to his current job as chief enterprise architect with the National Environmental Satellite and Information Service, a Line Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
In his spare time, Roberts is a volunteer with Joint Educational Facilities, Inc., a community based organization located in Washington, D.C., that offers advanced computer concepts, math, computational math topics, robotics and other information technology and computer information systems for students in grades four through 12.
Roberts resides in Alexandria with his wife, Teresa. He has five children: Christopher, 40; Kenneth, 24; Kevin, a senior at Shenandoah University; Kristin, 20; and Katrina, 9. In addition, he has five grandchildren.