Guy also recognizes Hall for pushing him to refine his writing skills and become a better communicator.
Guy’s then-emerging interest in computer science drove his decision to study mathematics. Drawn to the theoretical side of the field, he knew a solid foundation in mathematics would prepare him for the complex algebra that underlies computer programming and machine learning.
After graduating summa cum laude from App State, Guy went on to earn two master’s degrees from Wake Forest University, in mathematics and in computer science.
Closing communication gaps
In Guy’s current role at Microsoft, he finds himself constantly exercising the skills he learned during his time at App State.
Guy, whose team builds artificial intelligence (AI) models, describes many aspects of his role as “translational,” because he serves as a point of contact between the developers programming the AI software and the product managers concerned with the user experience.
“Researchers have one mindset and set of incentives,” explained Guy, “and pure product managers have different ones.”
Understanding these different outlooks and finding common ground between them is crucial to creating solutions and continually improving Microsoft’s products, according to Guy. He attributes his ability to effectively communicate across teams to the time he spent navigating diverse perspectives during his studies at App State.
He also said that the classes in the philosophy program primed him to think about the ethical implications of AI work, and how to create programs that are safe, trustworthy and fair.
Investing in the next generation
Today, Guy is eager to help current Mountaineers access the kind of transformational educational opportunities that defined his own time at App State.
He currently serves as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council, has established an endowed scholarship for students in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and has designated funds for the establishment of endowed scholarships for the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences in his estate plans.
In addition, in 2023, he established the Computer Science Alumni Scholarship to provide students in the Department of Computer Science with funds that can be applied not only to tuition, but also to the costs associated with internships and other industry-centered experiences. He also recently committed to participating in iBackAPP — the university’s annual day of giving — with a challenge gift benefitting this scholarship.
The decision to use a challenge gift to raise support for the scholarship was a strategic one: with this gift, he aims to inspire other alumni to invest in the program — not only financially, but as mentors and advisers as well.
Developing a network of relationships within the industry is of critical importance for career preparation, said Guy, and he is eager to create new avenues for connecting students with alumni and other industry professionals.
He has previously worked with faculty in the computer science department to stage mock interviews for students to help prepare them for the post-graduation job search. While opportunities like this are usually aimed at graduating seniors, Guy made his mock interviews available to non-seniors as well, believing that it is important to create avenues for students to learn from industry professionals earlier in their university careers.
“My goal is to help people with a few more years at App understand what we're looking for in time to take action — like taking specific classes, or seeking out internships or projects in particular areas,” he said.
He hopes to mobilize other alumni to offer assistance to students in similar ways.
A broader way of thinking
Reflecting on what was most meaningful about his time at App State, Guy spoke of the opportunities he had to engage in interdisciplinary learning and to exchange ideas with people of different backgrounds and different ways of thinking.
“There’s just something about the kind of people that App attracts that exposes you to people who are not like you,” he said. This, combined with the way App State encourages students to challenge their own preconceptions and explore new ideas, is what Guy thinks makes the App State Experience so unique.
“The degrees were important,” said Guy, “but not as important as the space to process values.”
Guy said that while he has encountered many people with significant specialized knowledge, it’s rare to find people with the breadth of knowledge and experience that distinguishes an App State graduate. That breadth of knowledge, he contends, is what enables an individual to contextualize issues — and people — in a way that empowers innovative and empathetic problem-solving.
“At App State,” he said, “I learned how to think.”