This year The Diana Initiative (TDI) held their annual conference on the campus of UNLV, making Bianca Ionescu’s participation all that much more meaningful. A current graduate student in the university’s Master of Science – Cybersecurity program, a CyberCorps SFS scholar, Vice President of the UNLV Cyber Clinic, and President of UNLV’s Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) student chapter, Ionescu has already established herself as an accomplished student and leader. Being selected to speak at TDI this year is just another feather in her cap. 

The Diana Initiative is a diversity-driven conference committed to helping underrepresented people in Information Security. The event featured multiple speaker tracks, capture-the-flag competitions, villages with hands-on activities, and workshops. Scheduled to take place around the hacker conference, DEF CON, TDI also hosts multiple activities, discussions and meet-ups onsite during DEF CON. But their key event is their own annual day long conference.

Ionescu’s presentation, “Real Clients, Real Stakes: Building Cyber Leaders in Student-Run Clinics” explored the world of student-led cybersecurity clinics where learners become leaders and theory meets practice. Based off of her own experience and leadership in the UNLV Cyber Clinic, she was able to share how the model works, why it’s effective, and how it is preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to not only enter the workforce but lead it.