Jennifer Mendoza Trejo is one of the first to complete the university’s new program in human-centered artificial intelligence.
Jennifer Mendoza Trejo never had a definitive answer for the age-old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
She wasn’t one of those lucky kids who knew their path from an early age. She had to become very thoughtful and discerning to figure out what kind of future would serve her best.
Figure it out she did, after starting and stopping college, and starting again while working full-time and being a mom.
Armed with a freshly inked diploma from Texas Tech Online, she’s one of the first handful of graduates with an Online Bachelor of Science in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. The program rolled out in October 2025.
Learning Ambition
Not only did she lack a clear vision early in life, but she also had a challenge other classmates didn’t. English was not her first language. Her parents, who emigrated from Mexico, never made it to high school. Spanish was spoken in her Waco home growing up, and she didn’t start learning English until third grade.
“I was in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes all that time,” Jennifer explained. “I was a little behind, but I've always had challenges learning just because Spanish is my first language.”
Jennifer caught on quickly, though, proving to herself that ambition and hard work pay off. By high school she had found an outlet for both creativity and leadership through music. As a flautist, she excelled in band and advanced to state competition twice. More importantly, music helped give her confidence as a leader, serving as a marching band captain.
After graduation, however, Jennifer still lacked a clear path. She enrolled at McLennan Community College (MCC), but struggled to find a direction that felt right, changing her major frequently. Her grades suffered.
“Then the COVID-19 pandemic came around,” she recalled. “I decided I’d just take a break to get myself together.”
After having time to reflect, she returned to MCC with a clear goal – to earn credentials that would help her secure a position at Baylor University, one of her city’s top employers.
She quickly earned an office technology certificate, learning Microsoft Office and other skills. Her ambition led to her next educational pursuit, an associate degree.
Her determination was even more remarkable when she became a mom, as her daughter was just four months old when Jennifer accepted a job at Baylor and simultaneously began working toward that two-year degree in computer science at MCC. She completed it in one year.
Once she was hired at Baylor, she found she enjoyed learning about different technologies.
Jennifer immersed herself in the workplace, always asking questions and seeking opportunities to learn. She would start conversations with professionals she’d meet, ask them questions about their job, what degree they had to have to get it and what skills were required, little by little preparing herself for leadership roles and future advancement. She now works as an enrollment management analyst in financial aid.
As a first-generation college student with no one’s footsteps to follow in, she had to discern her next step on her own: searching for a bachelor’s degree to pair with her achievement in computer science. Jennifer was ready to be the first in her family to strive for such a goal.
“I thought it (having a career) was something that wouldn't happen for me, but honestly, I love a challenge,” Jennifer said confidently.
An Intelligent Choice
Knowing that AI is a “super big thing right now,” Jennifer searched online for a degree program that would give her leverage in the workplace and in applying for positions where others may only have computer science degrees. She says there were a few reasons she chose Texas Tech's HCAI program.
“Mostly, I knew this degree would give me an edge in a competitive tech field, especially with how quickly AI is evolving.
“As a full-time employee and mom, online school was really my only option, and Texas Tech offered the flexibility I needed,” Jennifer said.
The 8-week terms were appealing because Jennifer says she has a fast-paced nature and doesn’t do as well with traditional 16-week semesters. Consequently, she has been able to stay focused and maintain Dean's List status throughout her time at Texas Tech.
The ability to work at her own pace, completing most of her coursework whenever it fit into her schedule, made the program an excellent choice.
Affordability was another factor that attracted Jennifer to Texas Tech. The financial aid office advised her on all her options, which gave her the means to complete her degree with very little debt.
Jennifer also worked with her online student advocate to acquire nine free prior learning assessment (PLA) credits – an acknowledgement and inclusion of a student’s prior work experience.
Knowing her field of choice is extremely competitive, she took advantage of Texas Tech’s partnership with Coursera, continuing to build her skills in software engineering. She’s focused on strengthening both her technical foundation and her ability to write clean, effective code.
Her professors and instructors were always available. Alejandro Abarca was particularly helpful and understanding of her situation.
Abarca, an assistant professor of practice in Texas Tech’s Department of Economics, teaches Human-Centered AI Models. He says it is a demanding course requiring students go beyond simply using AI tools. They learn how the technology works under the hood. Students develop Python programming skills and implement machine learning algorithms that form the foundation of many of today's AI systems.
He added that those technical skills provide the building blocks for more advanced work in artificial intelligence, data science and predictive analytics. Besides the technical knowledge, the program’s faculty also foster creativity and judgment, essential tools for a labor market demanding professionals with useful AI skills.
“Jennifer embraced these challenges exceptionally well,” Abarca said. “She combined strong technical ability with genuine intellectual curiosity, making her an outstanding example of the type of motivated, career-focused students this program is attracting.
“She was one of those students whose work immediately stood out. Every assignment she submitted demonstrated a level of care that is uncommon. It was obvious that she invested time not only in completing the work, but also in truly understanding the concepts before putting them into practice. She set a very high standard for herself, and it showed in the quality of everything she turned in.”
Meeting the Challenges
Along this journey, most of the challenges Jennifer met have been personal, acknowledging that balancing a full-time job, being a mom of a toddler and a homeowner can be a lot at times.
“I’ve had to learn to give myself grace. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I wanted to complete as many classes as possible within a year and graduate quickly,” Jennifer said. “I have held myself accountable to that goal, but I've also had to learn the importance of balance.”
After graduation, Jennifer will consider her options, including possibly seeking a leadership role or opportunities that will allow her to continue growing professionally.
“I strive to be a leader in the workplace,” Jennifer says emphatically, thinking back to her high school band days. “And I am excited to apply what I've learned about human-centered AI and ethical technology practices in a role where I can help make meaningful decisions and create a positive impact.”
Abarca says as AI continues to transform virtually every industry, programs like this are equipping professionals with the practical and analytical skills needed to lead that transformation rather than simply adapting to it.
Jennifer has transformed as well, leaning into her ambition and navigating barriers both personal and professional. She’s even thinking about pursuing a master’s in computer science or perhaps an MBA. She’ll be studying for the GRE.
“I have grown so much and learned a lot about myself during my time studying with Texas Tech Online,” Jennifer says, her face beaming with a self-assured grin. “Meeting your goals is definitely possible. Everyone’s journey is different, but we all share a common goal of being the best version of ourselves.”
Learn more about Texas Tech Online’s innovative Human-Centered AI degree and apply here.