Some of us stay rooted in one place, others travel on the wind like floating dandelion seeds. For Rio Salado Class of 2026 graduate Zach Harvey, his freewheeling past as “a musician, songwriter, vagabond, and experiencer of life” gave him the adaptability and courage to pursue a new career path and educational journey that’s taken him through Rio Salado and beyond!
Originally hailing from Bell Buckle, Tenn., the Shelbyville-based Harvey found opportunity through adversity when he took on a job at a Tyson Foods plant during the COVID pandemic. Learning that the plant offered tuition assistance through the Guild program re-ignited Harvey’s passion for technology.
“I’ve always been interested in computers, and for years I had wanted to move into IT or cybersecurity as a career,” Harvey said. “When I came across the AAS Cybersecurity program at Rio Salado, it felt like the right opportunity at the right time. I applied in the spring/summer of 2022 and have been on that path ever since.”
Part of what drew Harvey to Rio Salado was the flexible class schedules, which gave him enough wiggle room to pursue his studies while also staying on top of his professional and personal responsibilities.
“While working full-time and raising my 14-year old daughter, I knew I had to be realistic about my workload,” Harvey said. “I took classes part-time, usually three per semester, and built a consistent daily schedule where I dedicated about three hours to lectures and coursework. I also made it a point to stay at least a week ahead on assignments. That structure helped me stay on track and be successful.”
When asked what words of wisdom he’d offer to students who are considering online learning, Harvey highlighted the importance of intentionality.
“You really get out of it what you put into it,” he said. “It’s easy to rush through classes just to earn a degree, but that piece of paper doesn’t matter much if you don’t actually learn the material. Don’t rush through it. Take your time and focus on building real knowledge and skills, and I promise it will pay off.”
For Harvey, his time at Rio has already set him up for success in his career.
“In 2025, I was offered a position as the site IT administrator at the Tyson plant where I work, earning a six-figure salary,” Harvey said. “The skills and knowledge I gained through Rio Salado directly contributed to my success in that role.”
He plans to continue his education at the University of Arizona with his eyes on the prize of a bachelor’s degree.
“Since completing my degree, I’ve been accepted into the University of Arizona’s B.S. in Cyber Operations program, which I’m very excited about and see as the next step in continuing to grow my career. My goal is to continue my education and earn a bachelor’s degree, and later maybe even a master’s.”
As for his professional ambitions, Harvey envisions a future in cybersecurity, a career path full of creative challenges and problems to solve that will keep him on his toes.
“Long term, I hope to move into a corporate IT or cybersecurity role, maybe within Tyson Foods, where I can make a real impact and continue developing deeper technical and security skills.”
Article by Austin Brietta