Jason Fincham grew up playing video games and tinkering with computers. Long before smart TVs became commonplace, he figured out how to connect the internet to the family's television.
Still, a technology career wasn't on his radar after graduating from Culpeper County High School. Fincham didn't know what the future held for him beyond a college education.
When a friend enrolled at Germanna Community College, he decided to follow suit. Classes were affordable, and he could save even more money by living at home. Raised by a single mother who worked at 7-Eleven, keeping costs down mattered.
There was another factor: Fincham didn't have a car.
Because his friend was pursuing a general studies degree, Fincham did, too.
"We basically took all of the same classes, so we had a way to go with one another," he said.
He graduated with an associate degree in 2009 and enrolled at James Madison University through Virginia's Guaranteed Admission Agreement, which provides a pathway for community college graduates to transfer to four-year universities. As he neared the end of his time at Germanna, he settled on studying computer science.
Within a few years, Fincham was back at Germanna—this time on the other side of the classroom, beginning a technology career that would eventually lead him to his current role as an information technology security analyst.
As a student, he only saw one side of the college. Today, he helps keep it running, protecting Germanna's technology infrastructure, overseeing access to critical systems, and promoting cybersecurity awareness—work that touches nearly every aspect of campus operations.
"I went here, and now I get to be part of the backend of it," he said.
A steppingstone
Nearly two decades removed from his time as a student at Germanna, Fincham says he took the experience for granted.
"For me, it was a steppingstone," he said. "I knew I was going to go to a university."
Germanna gave him a solid general studies foundation, preparing him for James Madison. He also saved thousands of dollars by attending community college, while financial aid helped keep costs down even more.
One of his favorite—and most memorable—classes was backpacking, a physical education course taught by John Stroffolino, now associate dean of business and workforce development. The class culminated in an overnight hike on the Three Ridges Loop, a 13-mile trek along the Appalachian Trail.
Fincham also didn't fully realize how much his professors cared about helping students succeed.
Joel Tate, who taught at Germanna from its opening in 1970 until 2009, left a lasting impression.
"He was such a big personality," Fincham said. "He genuinely cared about teaching."
Another was Sunithi Gnanadoss, an English professor whom Fincham would later work alongside as a colleague. English wasn't his favorite subject, but he still considers her one of his best teachers.
Germanna proved to be exactly what Fincham needed: the starting point for a career that would bring him back home.
‘A special place’
After graduating with a bachelor's degree in computer science in 2012, Fincham rewarded himself by quitting his job at 7-Eleven, where he'd worked for nine years, and began applying for jobs in his field.
Landing one took longer than he expected.
"I had done a lot of interviews and I was not succeeding," he said.
Then he saw an opening for an information technology technician at Germanna.
"I came in with an attitude that I probably won't get this job, but we'll see how I do," he said. "That probably helped me get it—I was relaxed."
It had taken nearly a year to land the role, but it was worth the wait. Fincham has been at Germanna ever since. In 2024, he was promoted to information technology security analyst.
Today, he works primarily from Germanna's Locust Grove campus, the same place where he took most of his classes.
“Returning as an employee was surreal,” he said.
As a student, he focused on getting to class, earning his credits, and eventually transferring to James Madison University. He rarely stopped to think about everything happening behind the scenes to make that experience possible.
Today, his work gives him a front-row seat to those efforts. He helps manage access to critical systems, protects sensitive information, promotes cybersecurity awareness, and works to ensure the college's technology remains secure for students, faculty, and staff. He also sees firsthand the planning and teamwork required to support everything from onboarding new employees to commencement.
"I took my graduation here for granted," he said. "Now I see how much work goes into it."
It's a perspective he couldn't have imagined as an 18-year-old general studies student.
"Anytime I talk to high school graduates, I always tell them to attend community college first—and Germanna in particular," he said. "You get your bearings, you learn what's expected of you, and you have people here who genuinely care about your success. This really is a special place.”