Jean Larrieux

We are delighted to introduce our Alumni & Friends community to alumnus Jean Rodney Larrieux who earned his A.A. in Chemical Engineering with Honors. Since leaving Broward College he has forged an impressive career path in software engineering including past work with tech giant Google.

Jean, where did you grow up and what motivated you to attend Broward College? 

I grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and spent summers in South Florida. I also vacationed in the northwest of Haiti in Port-de-Paix. After high school I moved to the U.S., and South Florida naturally became home. Because I hadn’t taken the SAT, Broward College was a natural choice—close by, well-regarded, and a better fit for me than Miami Dade College.

Can you tell us about one or two moments that stand out about your time at the College? 

Two moments stand out. First, meeting Dr. Balzora—both my brother and I took his religion class. Seeing someone from the same island I was born on excelling at that level was inspiring. Second, being state runner-up in the 2004 Brain Bowl and a Math Team champion for 2003–2004 (Both plaques included as attachments). Representing my college at that level of academic excellence was an honor and a privilege.

Did you have any favorite professors or people at the College who were important to you as a student? 

Absolutely. Dr. Balzora was very approachable, and I looked to him as a mentor. Another favorite was my social/political science professor, who also coached our Brain Bowl team. It’s been more than two decades, but I believe his first name was “Pat.” His mentorship left a deep impression—I viewed him as an academic father figure.

Were there any particular resources at the college that were important to you when you were a student? 

The people and the programs were the greatest resources. I met like-minded students who influenced me, and I formed friendships that have lasted to this day. Brain Bowl gave me a platform to showcase my love of math and my soft spot for the history of physics and mathematics. Those experiences helped me fully explore my passions.

Where did you go after Broward College? What was your path? How did what you learn at the College prepare you for your path? 

After Broward College, I earned a mechanical engineering degree from Florida International University (2008) and enjoyed a great career as a mechanical engineer. In 2015 I went back to school for a Master’s in Computer Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, graduating in 2018. Broward College built my confidence, sharpened my study habits, and proved that I could thrive in rigorous academic settings.

What do you wish other people knew about Broward College, something you think is a best kept secret or something that makes our college standout among other institutions? 

The caliber of the professors (one of my chemistry professors worked on the Space Shuttle!) and the quality and drive of the students. Those would be my top picks.