(L)eadership- Freshman Summer Institute (FSI)

The Leadership Freshman Summer Institute focused on building leadership and communication skills early in my college experience. During this program, I worked with others in group activities that required teamwork, problem solving, and clear communication.

This experience helped me learn how to work effectively with others and take initiative when needed. These skills are important in any career, especially in cybersecurity where teamwork and communication are a big part of the job.

(A)cademic Internship- SOC Internship

My cybersecurity internship as a SOC Analyst was one of the most impactful experiences in my academic career. In this role, I investigated phishing emails, analyzed alerts, and worked with tools such as Microsoft Defender, Entra ID, and SIEM platforms. I also performed threat hunting and reviewed user activity to identify potential security risks.

This experience directly connects to my career goals because it gave me real world exposure to security operations. I was able to apply classroom knowledge in a live environment and understand how incidents are handled from detection to response. It also helped me build technical skills and improve my ability to analyze and respond to threats.

(R)esearch- Interdisciplinary Theory and Concepts

In this course I explored cybersecurity topics from different perspectives, including technical, social, and policy related views. I completed research assignments that required me to analyze problems and connect ideas across different areas.

This experience helped me understand that cybersecurity is not just about technology, but also about people and how systems are used. It improved my ability to think through problems and look at them from more than one perspective.

W(r)iting- Cyber Strategy and Policy

This course focused on writing and communication in cybersecurity. I completed assignments where I explained different topics and supported my ideas with research.

This experience helped me improve how I communicate complex ideas in a clear and organized way. Being able to explain information clearly is important in any professional role, especially when working with people who may not have a technical background.