Master of Science Student Paves Cybersecurity Path for Women
Date published: Feb. 12, 2018
The University of Dallas is proud to announce the first-ever recipient of the George S. Sturgeon Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, business graduate student Dominique West. As a finalist for the scholarship, West
presented an essay both in person and via a web video. West is graduating with her
M.S. in Cybersecurity in May and will receive a $3,000 scholarship to apply toward
her final semester at UD.
“It’s truly an honor to be the first recipient of the Sturgeon Cybersecurity Scholarship.
This scholarship is much bigger than me — it is a first step toward opening the door
for so many women aiming to further their careers in cybersecurity,” said West. “This
award shows that women of all backgrounds have a space in the cybersecurity field,
and I hope I can serve as a source of inspiration; I aim to inspire and encourage
myself, and in turn, I hope to become a source of inspiration for other women in my
field.”
“I am very proud of the work UD is doing to promote women in business and cybersecurity.
There is certainly more to be done, and we are committed to being part of the solution,”
said Gupta College of Business Dean Brett J. L. Landry. “This year there were many
very qualified women who applied, and the selection committee had a difficult task
in choosing the recipient.”
The Sturgeon Women in Cybersecurity Scholarship, first announced during the fall 2018
semester, strengthens the university's reputation as a leader in cybersecurity education.
Provided by Ellen M. Sturgeon, the scholarship includes matching funds from Fidelity
Investments and was created in honor of the late cybersecurity professional George
S. Sturgeon.
Since 2003, the University of Dallas Cybersecurity program has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(DHS). The university's Cybersecurity program was also recently ranked among the "Best
Online Master of Cybersecurity Degree Programs," including No. 1 in Texas by Master's
Programs Guide.
Eligible students may apply for the 2020 Sturgeon Cybersecurity Scholarship on the
University of Dallas website.
About the Sturgeon Cybersecurity Scholarship
Master of Science in Cybersecurity and MBA students with a cyber concentration in
their second year (or students with a minimum of 15 credits completed) are eligible
to receive the scholarship. Additionally, they must:
- be in good academic standing with an overall GPA of at least 3.5;
- be a female domestic and/or international student; and
- be a full-time or part-time student.
George S. Sturgeon dedicated 30 years of his career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department
of State in the field of information assurance. His work took him to American embassies
worldwide as he collaborated cohesively with his colleagues domestically and internationally
to secure classified data. In a predominantly male industry, George Sturgeon would
be honored to inspire and encourage women to take on such a gratifying career and
shoot for the stars.