If there was one resounding theme from October’s CyberWeek @ UNLV event, it was network, network, network. 

During the Cybersecurity Professional Panel, Chris Forte, president of local cybersecurity nonprofit C2Society, shared that he wished he had started networking earlier in his career. His suggestion to students? 

“Join a community and surround yourself with people who challenge you," he encouraged. "Continued exposure to people in the field with different interests than you will help you grow and open doors you may have never known existed."

Forte and the other dozens of panelists, speakers, and guests were all part of UNLV’s inaugural CyberWeek. Hosted by the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering and Lee Business School, the event kicked off National Cybersecurity Awareness Month at UNLV. 

“The idea for CyberWeek was to hold a variety of events that would appeal to and provide value for our students at every level of their academic careers, while also creating opportunities for companies to engage with the university and our cybersecurity programs,” said Greg Moody, informations systems professor and director of UNLV’s bachelor’s and master’s cybersecurity programs.

CyberWeek activities included panel discussions with cybersecurity experts, a hands-on capture-the-flag competition, a job fair, and an esports competition.

“With far more cybersecurity jobs available than qualified people to fill them, creating a workforce pipeline and making sure students have both the hard and soft skills to secure a position upon graduation is of paramount importance,” said Yoohwan Kim, computer science professor and Cybersecurity Center associate executive director. “CyberWeek creates opportunities for students to do both.”

Priming the Cybersecurity Workforce Pipeline

The importance of engaging students in cybersecurity well before they enter college cannot be overstated. That is why the professors included outreach to Clark County School District students. 

CCSD Tech Day saw more than 140 students from valley schools descend on UNLV for a day-long event that included lab tours and a career discussion with cybersecurity industry experts.

“For the past seven years we have been welcoming CCSD students to UNLV’s GenCyber Camp, in addition to reaching high school students through the UNLV Cyber Clinic’s Junior Membership program,” said Juyeon Jo, computer science professor and Cybersecurity Center executive director. “CyberWeek enabled us and the university to extend that reach even more.”

High school students from Valhallan Esports Training also participated in an esports competition. The competition, which started off at the beginning of the semester, concluded with the top teams battling it out during a final showdown at UNLV. Esports can be a dynamic gateway to the field as students gain a diverse set of skills that extend well beyond gaming and are applicable to cybersecurity.

Industry Collaboration

With a dozen individuals representing both UNLV chapters and professional associations in the cybersecurity space, students heard directly from those who had been in their shoes and are now in positions to help. People like Jennifer Cramer, strategic account director for EVOTEK and vice president and co-founder of Thrive Network for Women, a community-driven nonprofit committed to advancing women in technology, leadership, and business.

“I did a career pivot halfway through my life and was fortunate to have a couple of folks who were willing to take a chance and help lift me up in my career,” said Cramer. “I wish I would have found mentors sooner, that is why it was important to me to be here today for the students. Hopefully, they hear just one little thing I say that helps elevate them to their next career goal.” 

Thien Nguyen, a graduate student studying computer science, attended the event specifically to catch up with an attending professional he knows through one of the presenting groups. 

According to Nguyen, these types of events are valuable in closing the gap between professionals and students. “It isn’t about the technical stuff, but the advice they have of getting into the industry and learning how they succeed with a similar background.” 

Knowledge and Networks

One of the most valuable events that took place during CyberWeek, particularly for students nearing graduation, was the CISO Panel featuring cybersecurity leaders from companies including Credit One Bank, Aristocrat, MGM Resorts International, Southwest Gas, and more.

These top-level executives shared what they were looking for in team members, how to stand out from the crowd during interviews, and qualities beyond the resume that are important for candidates to share.

A few students participated in a speed interview where they had an opportunity to introduce themselves to the distinguished panel and then answer a few rapid-fire questions.

Hareign Casaclang, a computer science master’s student and a CyberCorps SFS scholar, was one of the interviewees. “It was good to get a variety of responses from CISOs at different organizations, see what each one is looking for and what they thought of each candidate.”

Afterward, students practiced their networking skills during a VIP reception, where they spoke at length with panelists in an informal setting.

“It was nice to interact individually with CISOs because as college students we typically aren’t in the same room with professionals at that level,” shared Daman Sandhu, a master’s student in management information systems. “Cybersecurity itself is such a diverse field, and it was interesting to hear about all the different aspects they specialize in. Some did not even start with a cyber background — it really is an industry that is for anyone and the leadership in Las Vegas represents that.”

Both events created opportunities for students to meet decision makers in the field and personally add to their own professional network, with panelists encouraging the attending students to reach out and stay connected. 

“Throughout my career, I have worked for eight different organizations,” shared Bob Leek, CIO for Clark County and a CISO panelist. “At each company I had the opportunity for the role because of networking. If you are not networking, do it. If you are networking, do more of it. And invest in your network because they will invest in you.”