Women in CyberSecurity (WiCys)
Established in 2012 by Dr. Ambareen Siraj of Tennessee Tech University through a grant from the National Science Foundation, Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), a global community of women and men, is thriving, fulfilling our spirit “Together, We Thrive!”
WiCyS brings talented women together to celebrate and foster their passion and drive for cybersecurity. As a nonprofit, WiCyS unites local communities of aspiring and thriving women cybersecurity professionals worldwide to collaborate, share their knowledge, network, and mentor.
WiCyS increases cybersecurity awareness through professional development programs, conferences, career fairs, and more while supporting students, professionals, faculty, veterans, the BIPOC community, and mentoring members as they explore career opportunities and go through the pathways of advancement.
DOMINIQUE SERNA, WiCyS member and 2021 Security Training Scholarship Recipient
Please join WiCyS in congratulating our member Dominique Serna as a 2021 Security Training Scholarship made possible by Google, Bloomberg, and Meta recipient!
During our recent interview, Dominique explained how she first learned of WiCyS during Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges. WiCyS resonated with her because the community encourages cybersecurity studies and women empowering women in cybersecurity careers.
Dominique stated, “Cybersecurity is accessible to all those interested because it is more about a mindset than your degree.”
Nevertheless, Dominique, originally from Quebec, Canada, is pursuing her studies and certifications while working for the City of Los Angeles as a Senior Administrative Clerk.
Dominique explained: “I enjoy playing games and solving puzzles. Cybersecurity is a perfect match, so I decided to make a career change. Cybersecurity is constantly evolving, and there is always something new to learn.”
Within the last two years, Dominique completed a Cybersecurity associate degree Summa Cum Laude. Congratulations!
At the same time, she became a SANS GIAC scholarship recipient and completed CompTIA A+ and Security+ Certifications.
Currently, she is taking three classes as part of the scholarship program in SANS GIAC: GFACT, GSEC, and GCIH. She will complete the WiCyS Security Training scholarship with advanced SANS certifications in Q2 2022!
Now, she is interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Cybersecurity and obtaining her first job in the cybersecurity field.
If interested to know more about Dominique, catch her a lively interview on the Total Seminars Channel on YouTube — Mike Myers Live Q and A Show.
Dominique stressed the importance of newcomers to cybersecurity acquiring the CompTIA certifications as a starting point – and of course, they should join WiCyS!
Dominique is enthusiastic about attending the WiCyS conference in March in Cleveland. She stated, “I am looking forward to finally meeting the other cohort participants during the conference.”
Indeed, we are looking forward to following Dominique’s journey to a fantastic career in cybersecurity!
WiCyS SECURITY TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
WiCyS is proud to offer the Security Training Scholarship made possible by Google, Bloomberg, and Meta.
The SANS Institute provides a multi-staged scholarship opportunity for the WiCyS cohort:
- SANS Beginner-level CTF
- SANS CyberStart Game
- SANS CyberTalent Assessment
- SEC275/Foundations course + GFACT certification exam
- Advanced SANS training courses along with the opportunity to complete additional certifications.
Scholarship recipients participate in a program designed to launch or advance cybersecurity careers through skills development, focusing on future cybersecurity employment within the next 1.5 years.
At each stage of the twelve-month scholarship program, mentors and peers help guide and support recipients, leveraging the power of our community. Our robust network is there every step to make the scholarship experience meaningful and build the collective strength of all involved — which is priceless.
Program graduates are qualified and ready to pursue careers in cybersecurity!
WICYS CONFERENCE 2022 – March 16 -19, 2022, Cleveland, OH
Program Theme for 2022: Being Smart about Security and Privacy of All “Smart” Things
Save the Date: Join us live at the 2022 WiCyS Conference on March 16-19, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio!
Sponsorship: Learn about conference sponsorship here: https://www.wicys.org/support/wicys-2022-sponsorship/.
Collaboration: If interested in possible collaboration, connect with WiCyS executive director at [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you at #WiCyS2022 in Cleveland, Ohio!
Together, we thrive! Let the WiCyS community lead the way!
Dawn Kristy (2022, January 23), Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Security Training Scholarship Program. The Cyber Dawn DEMYSTIFYING CYBER RISK. https://thecyberdawn.com/women-in-cybersecurity-wicys-security-training-scholarship-program/
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