PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (July 15, 2026) – Josiah Moore ‘26 has spent his life climbing hills. From being born prematurely at 32 weeks, to navigating dyslexia and academic challenges, he has met each “hill” with perseverance. But the hill that changed his life most was The Hill — Prairie View A&M University — where he graduated this past spring summa cum laude with a degree in computer science, launched a career at IBM, and discovered a community that believed in him every step of the way.
And The Hill will not be the last one he climbs either: he also dreams of earning a master’s degree, a Ph.D., or both, in computer science, focusing on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity research as he continues pursuing new challenges and opportunities.
As he looks ahead, Josiah also reflects on the hills he has already climbed. Graduating summa cum laude represented more than academic success. It proved to himself that he was capable of growth, and reflected the discipline, perseverance and resilience that carried him through every challenge.
At PVAMU, Josiah also had the unique opportunity to share campus with his father, Dr. Quincy C. Moore III, a professor and dean. Their experience reflects the close-knit community that defines Prairie View A&M—where Panther pride often becomes a family tradition.
Josiah and his parents
“My parents played the biggest role in my success,” Josiah remembered. “When I was first diagnosed with dyslexia in the third grade, my mom never allowed me to see it as a disability. Instead, she encouraged me to view it as a gift that simply meant I learned differently. My dad also constantly pushed me to do my best, even during the times when my best was earning a C. Their support and belief in me helped shape the mindset that allowed me to keep pushing forward throughout my academic journey.”
Family, Faith, and a Different Way of Learning
Josiah’s journey at PVAMU began through the CE² program, a Summer Bridge Program the University offers to incoming freshmen to help them acclimate to college level coursework. This program helped sharpen his interest in cybersecurity, sharpening his creativity, problem-solving abilities, and leadership skills through competitions such as Panthers Invent, HBCU Battle of the Brains, and several Thurgood Marshall College Fund challenges.
Together, those experiences fueled his passion for computer science and reinforced his commitment to lifelong learning and growth.
Finding Purpose through Computer Science
Long before college, Josiah was interested in STEM and computer science, finding coding projects offered a creative outlet unlike anything else.
“What really hooked me [during my high school STEM class] was the final project, where we were given the chance to make any coding project within a set number of requirements,” Josiah said. “I decided to make my own version of Space Invaders, but with sharks as the defenders. That experience made me realize how creative and exciting programming could be, and I’ve been passionate about computer science ever since. Computer science programming felt like an outlet that allowed the ideas flowing through my head to be translated easier than writing regular sentences.”
Academic success did not come easily for Josiah. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, he had to develop strategies that worked in the way he learned rather than trying to force himself into a traditional mold.
“Growing up, I was a C student in elementary school before I fully understood how my dyslexia affected the way I learned,” he said. “To succeed, I had to learn how to think differently and play to my strengths.”
Through trial and error, Josiah learned to focus less on memorization and more on deeply understanding concepts. That approach was tested early during the CE² program, when accelerated college math courses challenged him to adapt and persevere.
“Barely earning a B in those courses humbled me, but it also taught me exactly what I needed to do to become the best student I could be,” he said.
Even as his grades improved, moments of self-doubt remained. Over time, however, Josiah learned to trust that he belonged wherever his hard work had taken him. Every challenge became either a chance to celebrate progress or an opportunity to learn and improve. Josiah said he reminded himself that “you don’t have to be the expert in the room—just being in the room proves you qualify.”
Competitions, presentations, and fast-paced problem-solving environments often pushed him outside his comfort zone, but they also helped him grow in confidence and leadership.
“College has really tested my flexibility in thinking but that is something dealing with dyslexia has taught me,” Josiah said. “Instead of blaming dyslexia, it has become my strength. I only earned one other B during my time at PVAMU and ended my college career with a 3.93. That just solidified within myself the belief that the only limits are the ones I place on myself.”
That lesson carried over into his leadership roles at Prairie View A&M, including serving as president of the Cybersecurity Club. By focusing on growth, collaboration, and a willingness to learn, Josiah helped strengthen the organization while reinforcing a philosophy that continues to guide him today: success comes not from knowing everything, but from being willing to keep learning.
A spirit of continuous learning introduced him to PVAMU’s Panthers Invent program his freshman year, which opened a door to an internship with Sandia National Laboratories as a year-round computer science intern working in Surety Engineering.
The internship challenged him to apply what he learned in the classroom to real-world engineering problems. After two years, he wanted to focus on research, and after leaving Sandia, he was accepted in a summer research opportunity at MIT where he studied the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.
Opening Doors Beyond The Hill
Looking back, Josiah credits many of those opportunities to the encouragement and mentorship he found at PVAMU. Faculty and staff consistently challenged him to pursue experiences beyond the classroom, opening doors to internships, research and professional opportunities that shaped his future.
“I was encouraged to pursue these opportunities from my first day in college,” Josaih said. “None of these opportunities I would’ve been open to exploring without the Honors College, which continues to encourage students to be open to advancement and visiting “rooms” they think they don’t qualify for or belong in. PVAMU has truly been an amazing place for me. Without the people I met here, I definitely would not have succeeded the way I did. I will always be grateful for the experiences and relationships I built during my time here.”
Looking back at how he’s grown as a student, a leader, a researcher, and a now as an innovator at IBM, he encourages other students who are struggling with similar academic or learning challenges to “be patient with yourself.”
“Even small improvements are still improvements,” Josiah said. “Don’t rush the process. Growth takes time, and everyone learns differently.”
And in a true spirit of competition, and with a true lens of self-reflection, he added one more piece of advice:
“The only person you should compete with… is yourself.”
By Meredith Mohr
-PVAMU-