Program: MS Cybersecurity
Current Passion: Education in underprivileged countries specifically Haiti.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree in cybersecurity at ³Ô¹ÏÍø?
I always wanted to pursue a graduate degree, specifically in Cybersecurity. At the time I joined this program, I was active military and not only did this program fit with my schedule but also provided a well developed and rigorous curriculum that had exactly what I needed to be successful. I was looking for specific courses but also needed the ability to complete my degree online.
What is your plan for after graduation?
After graduation I plan to continue to learn and grow as an Information Security Analyst. I am actively working to improve my skills everyday and I honestly consider myself a forever learner. I hope to one day be able to call myself a CISO based on the instrumental tools that I learned here at ³Ô¹ÏÍø.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
I would tell them to participate in every activity they can, this is how you develop relationships, and you also never know who you are going to meet. I have virtually met a ton of people who have helped and guided me along in my career, so attend the webinars and stay positive. I would also mention that this program is what you make of it, pay attention to everything and you may find something that you never knew about before that you thoroughly enjoy.
What was your favorite part of the graduate program at ³Ô¹ÏÍø?
My favorite part about this program was the flexibility and availability of my professors. Even though I am doing this program online, I still feel very much a part of the school. The professors fantastic at what they do. I imagine that supporting students virtually must be a difficult task, however they make it seem effortless. I haven’t had one bad experience with a professor yet.
How did your experience at ³Ô¹ÏÍø help to prepare you for your professional goals?
This program provided a scope of a lot of the fields in cybersecurity and helped me frame my professional goals based on the information taught here. There are many different paths in cybersecurity and this program helped me establish what it is I like to do and what I’d like to focus on in my career. Professionally, this program has built a strong foundation and then some, that is if you are new to the field don’t be nervous, as you are provided with the tools necessary to succeed.