Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree in cybersecurity at UD?

When I considered switching career path from business analytics to information technology, I wanted a program that will give me a firm base and good launch into my new area of interest. The cybersecurity program at UD offers several practical trainings and immersions that stimulate real-life situation and better prepares you for your career.

What is your plan for after graduation?

I think continuous education is vital in cybersecurity. So, after graduation, the plan is to work on developing my skills as well as taking several security certifications to prepare me on my path to become a cloud security engineer.

Tell us about your experience in your internship.

My internship at AWS was very insightful and impactful. Working with AWS, each week presented a new challenge and learning experience. It was an amazing opportunity to learn about cloud computing in general and several services that can be used to support virtually any workload. An effective way to learn is through practical hands-on experimentation. The internship offered a safe space where learners could experiment with different services through hand on labs. Besides the hands-on labs, we had to showcase your understanding of how services work and even more so validate our understanding by completing certifications. The environment was one that promoted and fostered learning and curiosity and these skills, even though unmeasurable are vital to success in a rapidly changing technological and business environment.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Explore all opportunities that is presented by the school. Make time to attend seminars and utilize the career resource center to assist with your resume and job search as soon as possible. If you are new to the field, look for internships to get practical experience. It may lead to further opportunities for you.

What was your favorite part of the graduate program at UD?

The community and diversity of resources that are presented to you. Beyond the normal class session where you get to interact and learn from professors and colleagues, there is a host of seminars and talks that give valuable real-world insights into your chosen career path.

How did your experience at UD help to prepare you for your professional goals?

There’s a list of things. Quantifiable and unquantifiable. I acquired a lot of technical skills from UD. Each course offers unique sets of tools that help build skills to tackle security issues. Interactions with colleagues through projects or discussion board was a good immersion into how to learn and work with teammates. UD didn’t only provide me with the knowledge base and technical skills that I needed, but also fostered my leadership skills which is integral for career progression.