Justin Haddad
Computer Science, Class of 2026
From Oklahoma City, OK
When the opportunity came to combine my two biggest passions of technology and sport, I was prepared to take on the challenge. While my project at Nike was unique, the fundamental programming skills I developed inside classrooms at OU played a crucial role in my success. It made it easier to adapt and tackle whatever challenge I faced as an intern.
OU computer science senior Justin Haddad spent his summer with Nike as a software engineer intern. Out of 70,000 applications, Justin was one of only 200 interns invited to work at Nike’s World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, where he worked closely with the Consumer Product and Innovation team.
“I developed an AI-powered application that automated and streamlined the process of creating product briefs,” Justin said. “I also participated in intramural sports and met with world-renowned athletes.”
For Justin, it was his first time working with artificial intelligence, but by the end of the summer, he had discovered a way to improve internal workflows to support Nike’s Product Line Managers. Justin discovered this opportunity with Handshake, OU’s career management platform that connects students with relevant opportunities and employers based on profile, interests, and search activity.
“Applying on Handshake led me to my first interview,” Justin said. “After that, I attended a national engineering conference with OU’s American Indian Science & Engineering organization, where I got to put my foot in the door and speak to representatives from Nike. I believe this interaction played a huge role in helping me get the internship.”
But work began before his interview, and the OU Career Center, the university’s one-stop shop for career preparation, was there to help.
“The Career Center helped polish my networking skills and my resume,” Justin said. “I was also connected with the Career Fairs, where I put those skills to use by talking directly with companies and learning about the opportunities they offered to OU students.”
To help him complete his work at Nike, his computer science courses at OU came in handy.
“While my project at Nike was unique, the fundamental programming skills I developed inside classrooms at OU played a crucial role in my success,” Justin said. “It made it easier to adapt and tackle whatever challenge I faced as an intern.”
After completing his summer internship, he is returning to OU to finish his final year as an undergraduate student. His internship showed him how OU resources helped him create a path toward his professional dreams.
“When the opportunity came to combine my two biggest passions of technology and sport, I was prepared to take on the challenge,” Justin said.
