Halo! I'm Rakitha.

I'm Rakitha Perera, an IT professional with a creative background in design, media, and user experience. Originally from Sri Lanka and now based in Las Vegas, I've worked in higher education IT for close to two decades, focusing on making complex systems more approachable and user-friendly.

I hold a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a B.S. in Graphic Design and Media from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). My path started in engineering, evolved through design, and ultimately led to a career that blends technology, problem-solving, and communication. Along the way, I've worked on everything from drone tech at Dronesmith Technologies, collaborating with teams at Intel, Cisco, and IBM, to supporting digital tools and services in a university environment.

While my primary focus is in IT, I bring a design mindset into every project, whether that is improving user interfaces, simplifying documentation, or aligning branding with function. Years of experience in web development, UI/UX, professional photography, and filmmaking give me a unique edge when it comes to communicating complex ideas in clear, engaging ways.

Outside of the day job, I am an avid homelabber, spending the last couple of years building out server environments and tinkering with self-hosted tech. I am especially interested in how design thinking can support secure systems, research, and education. Whether I am optimizing a home server or vibe coding a passion project like a mobile language-learning app for my kid, I am always looking for new ways to bridge the gap between people and technology.