Little did Lillian McPadden '25 realize that pursuing her Computer Science degree at Marist would lead to multiple ventures with the IBM Corporation, including numerous internships, conference presentations, and a full-time job offer.

As a student, she participated in the Marist-IBM Joint Study program. Students in the Program can receive practical, hands-on experience while solving real-world problems for industry partners and using modern-day technologies. For McPadden, she completed cybersecurity testing and research on the IEEE 1588 Standard Precision Time Protocol (PTP). McPadden explained, "This protocol is paired with the Network Time Protocol (NTP) used in clocks within computer systems to ensure times are synchronized in a sub-nanosecond manner. For example, it is used in places like Wall Street when completing bank transactions, or in telecommunications when broadcasters need to ensure their audio recordings sync up with their video recordings."

McPadden credits much of her personal, professional, and academic development to her experience with Marist's IBM Joint Study Program. As a student, she explained, "It has helped me build my confidence and has allowed me to grow my network within my future career." McPadden's involvement enabled her to connect with industry experts and eventually become a representative of the Program, delivering multiple presentations at various conferences and events. Moreover, McPadden's experience with the Joint Study Program has instilled in her a desire to work within the program post-graduation for future students, serving as a mentor and possibly even a Program Director. 

Outside of her academic studies and budding tech career, McPadden was involved with multiple campus clubs and the Marist Music Department. She served on the Executive Board for the Marist Singers, was Captain of the Color Guard, and was employed as a Student Worker. As a student and soon-to-be graduate, she advised, "Don't be afraid to ask what you think maybe a dumb question. More likely than less, someone else in the room is thinking the same thing, and they are just too afraid to ask it!"