In today’s digital society, individuals who possess the skills needed to safeguard data are in high demand. Next week, three students from Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) are attending a conference where they will have an opportunity to expand their knowledge on cybersecurity and network with top security leaders and pioneers.
Jodi Fleming, who is pursuing a master of professional studies (MPS) in IST; Mingyi Zhao, a doctoral candidate in IST; and Madison Oliver, a senior majoring in security and risk analysis (SRA) at the College of IST, have been named recipients of the RSA Conference Security Scholarship program which will allow them to attend the USA 2016 RSA Conference to be held Feb. 29 to March 4 in San Francisco.
The RSA Conference, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will feature more than 500 exhibitors, over 400 expert-led sessions, networking opportunities and keynote speakers. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide emerging cybersecurity graduates with an opportunity to attend a professional conference, participate in a poster competition and to connect with cybersecurity companies that have future career opportunities.
Fleming, who lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, received a bachelor of science degree in IST through the Penn State World Campus in 2013, and an Information Systems Cybersecurity certificate from Penn State in 2015. She puts her cyber skills to use in her role as a senior data security analyst for Merlin International, a veteran-owned company based in Englewood, Colorado, that provides comprehensive information technology solutions to the US government. She is also a member of the US Air Force Reserves, serving as a knowledge management specialist. Her expertise in cybersecurity is an integral part of keeping US Air Force data assets secure.
While the level of instruction in the MPS program is superior, Fleming said, she is looking forward to gaining access to the specialized expertise of the presenters at the RSA Conference.
“Being able to experience a venue such as the RSA Conference is really going to put into context the importance and purpose of the knowledge that I have gained from the program,” she said.
After she receives her MPS degree this spring, Fleming said she would like to continue working in public service as a cybersecurity analyst or possibly a cryptanalyst.
“My ultimate goal is to be an asset to our nation by supporting the continued effort to protect our networks and knowledge from our adversaries.”
Like Fleming, Zhao also has a considerable amount of knowledge and experience in cybersecurity under his belt. His research focuses on bug bounty programs—deals offered by many websites and software developers by which individuals can receive recognition and compensation for reporting software bugs, especially those pertaining to exploits and vulnerabilities. He is currently a data scientist intern for HackerOne, a vulnerability coordination company based in San Francisco that established a bug bounty platform that connects businesses with security researchers.
Zhao said he is looking forward to getting more exposure to the cybersecurity industry and networking with professionals in the field at the RSA Conference.
“With proper incentives, the hacker community can make significant contributions to security,” he said. “I would like to learn and explore more about how hackers and companies can better collaborate.”
Zhao credits his advisor Peng Liu, director of the Center for Cyber-Security, Information Privacy, and Trust (LIONS), as well as the College of IST “for giving me this valuable opportunity and providing me with a great environment to learn and grow."
For Oliver, the “constant change and challenge” of the cybersecurity field led her to major in SRA at the College of IST.
“I was drawn to (cybersecurity) because I have to constantly continue learning and it is applicable in every form of business,” she said.
Oliver, who will be interning at Bayer Business and Technology Services this summer, plans to attend graduate school in the fall. The College of IST, she said, has been a valuable launch pad for her future career in cybersecurity.
“I believe that I have most of the appropriate skills to find a career and have had many different networking opportunities to meet potential employers.”