Google, College of Charleston Partner to Invest in Student Success

^{Above (l–r): Cameron Johnson, Meena Shanmugam, Snovi Patel and Vicktorya Queiroz (Photo provided)}

Four College of Charleston computer science majors spent six weeks this summer participating in Google’s Data Center Student Immersion Program, gaining hands-on experience in one of the technology industry’s fastest-growing sectors. The students were part of the College’s third cohort to complete the program, which ran from June 8–July 24, 2026, and is designed to prepare participants for careers in the data center industry through immersive learning, mentorship and real-world training.

The experience began with a four-day orientation at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, before students traveled to their assigned data center location in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Throughout the program, they completed onboarding and safety training, participated in technical workshops and site tours, attended daily team meetings and worked closely with mentors.

Students also had the opportunity to shadow professionals in the areas of data center services, data center operations and global server operations, gaining firsthand insight into the teams responsible for maintaining and supporting critical data center infrastructure. As the program progressed, they moved from observation to application, taking on independent work and reflection assignments before completing a capstone project. During the final week, participants presented their projects and earned certification, showcasing the knowledge and skills they developed through training, mentorship and workplace immersion.

For Summerville, South Carolina, native Cameron Johnson, the experience proved to be transformative. After learning about the opportunity at a College of Charleston Career Center fair, he applied and discovered a new passion while working with Google’s Global Server Operations team.

After a few days with the team, Johnson was able to reset a server to understand what it does and how it works.

“This opportunity has not only jump-started my career, but it has also given me the knowledge to do everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” says Johnson. “The knowledge I’ve gained from this project has made me feel well-prepared for any tech job I’ll have in the future.”

Honors College student Vicktorya Queiroz says the program’s collaborative culture left a lasting impression. 

“I simply loved their workplace culture,” says Queiroz, a Charleston native who lived in Brazil from age 3 until it was time to attend the College of Charleston. “It was incredible to see how a massive, global corporation manages to keep everyone so genuinely kind, welcoming and eager to teach.”

The experience also helped her define her career goals.

“Seeing how smoothly the different teams collaborate in a data center was eye opening, but the real breakthrough was realizing where I fit into that picture,” she says. “It showed me that my true passion lies in the software and coding side of technology, including the programs used by data center technicians and the code that powers automation and robotics.”

Snovi Patel spent much of her childhood in Doha, Qatar, before moving to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for high school and later enrolling at the College of Charleston. She says one of the most valuable parts of this summer’s experience was seeing how the different areas of data center operations worked together.

“Before the program, I mostly understood the software side, but being exposed to the servers, networking, power systems and the full lifecycle of a data center gave me a new appreciation for the engineering that powers the technology millions of people use every day,” says Patel.

She also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of teamwork.

“I also realized just how much happens behind the scenes to keep everything running,” she says. “It showed me that technical knowledge is only one part of it. Communication, planning and teamwork are just as important.”

Vice President for Community Engagement Courtney A. Howard says, “This partnership with Google reflects what is possible when higher education and industry come together to invest in student success. Since launching this collaboration in 2024, we have seen students gain access to experiences that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. By immersing them in real-world data center operations, the program helps prepare the next generation of talent while strengthening the workforce pipeline for our region and beyond.”