Singapore is Mr Brian Gray's first foray out of the United States continent though he has technically traveled to Mexico and the Caribbean islands. The fourth-year student from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is finishing a degree in Information Systems and minors in Computer Science and Film. Brian arrived in Singapore in August 2005 and is excited about his exchange programme with the Singapore Management University . He is the first CMU student to do an exchange with SMU.

Brian, 21 years old, is presently doing four subjects in SMU: Architectural Analysis, Process Modelling & Solution Blueprinting and Networking (all taught by the School of Information Systems ) as well as Postmodern Theatre Studies. He describes himself as an atypical CMU student. When Brian first signed up for the exchange, it was entirely academically driven. Only when he arrived in SMU did he realize there is so much more to gain from a programme in a foreign country.

Particularly intrigued by the Process Modelling & Solution Blueprinting course offered by SIS, Brian thinks this subject is never taught in such a well-packaged structure anywhere in the world. It is also something one can never learn from textbooks. He gives SIS much credit for this opportunity. Besides, Information Systems is only a small programme under the School of Humanities and Social Sciences back in CMU whereas in SMU, it is an advanced, concentrated and well-developed curriculum. He is also very impressed by the way SIS integrates business and technology such that technology is taught in a way that applies to business and vice versa. Elsewhere, business and technology are taught in silos.

Born in Cleveland , Ohio , Brian's other passion in film-making has produced two short films and two videos, one of them is a 1930s Charle Chaplin-inspired silent piece called "The Fool". To jazz up his student life in SMU, Brian has auditioned for Sambal Masala, in the hope of playing the snare or congo , being a percussionist himself. He has also been attending workshops by StageIT. The all-rounded student has been involved in theatre since he was eight.

His parting word of advice is to spend one's first two years in SMU and the last two years in CMU and you will have obtained the best Information Systems education one can ever hope for.

Brian returns to CMU in December this year and will complete a final term there before finally graduating in around May 2006.