STCC students selected for prestigious cybersecurity mentorship program
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Two Springfield Technical Community College students are part of this spring’s Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, which offers real-world experience and helps expand their professional networks.
“I’m really excited to be representing STCC,” said Lyly Dixson, a lifelong Springfield resident who is pursuing an associate degree in computer and IT security. She is working with mentor Maggie MacAlpine, security strategist/chief of staff to the CSO at Cybereason in Boston.
STCC student Chase Davis of Chicopee is working with mentor Raj Sharma, vice president of Information Security at Northern Bank & Trust Co. in Woburn.
Dixson said she hopes to transfer to Elms College after STCC and pursue a bachelor’s degree in computer information technology and security. Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate in cybersecurity.
She was drawn to the STCC cybersecurity program because she was excited about getting into the growing field. “People will always need to secure their personal data,” she said.
She knew the program had an excellent reputation and viewed STCC as her hometown college.
“When I was a child I lived in Chestnut Towers, and I would see the campus up on the hill, and I thought that school looked so nice,” she said. “I liked that it was affordable and part of the community.”
At STCC, Dixson works as a tutor for TRIO Student Support Services, a program that assists students in adjusting to the college environment. She also is a Supplemental Instruction leader, working with faculty and tutoring students in their classes.
While enrolled at STCC, a professor encouraged her to apply for the Cybersecurity Mentorship Program, created by MassCyberCenter at the MassTech Collaborative.
The program pairs diverse undergraduate students from across the Commonwealth with mentors from the state’s cybersecurity sector. The two STCC students are among a cohort of 41 students in the current session who represent 18 Massachusetts two- and four-year higher education institutions. Spring 2022 marks the first time STCC students have joined the program.
Cybersecurity skills are in high demand and many employers are having difficulty filling open positions, said Mary Kaselouskas vice president and chief information officer at STCC. There is currently a shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Western Massachusetts, particularly of workers from diverse and underrepresented populations.
“I’m excited that Lyly and Chase will be part of the next generation of professionals to help meet the growing need for a well-trained and diverse cybersecurity workforce,” Kaselouskas said.
Davis said he will meet with his mentor throughout the spring to discuss careers in cybersecurity and collaborate on a related project.
I’m really excited to be representing STCC.Lyly Dixson, STCC student, Computer and IT security
“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” Davis said. “I’m grateful to the support I’ve received from my professors at STCC. One of the things I love about STCC is that it not only gives students a great education but it opens doors to career opportunities.”
“We’ve seen enthusiasm from both students and organizations interested in participating,” Stephanie Helm, the Director of the MassCyberCenter, said in a news release. “This speaks to the real demand for diversity and inclusion in the cybersecurity workforce in the Commonwealth. This program is a great way to connect innovative and motivated young talent with cybersecurity employers.”
Dixson said she is proud to help bring more diversity into the male-dominated cybersecurity field. She is Black and Puerto Rican.
She hopes to be a role model for her community in Springfield – and perhaps one day mentor young women of color who dream of a career in a STEM field like cybersecurity.
“Once I learn these skills, I’ll be able to pass them on to members of my community, because that’s initially what I signed up for,” she said.
The program pairs students and mentors based on shared interests and once paired up, they meet virtually one-to-one to discuss cybersecurity careers and work together on a cyber-related project. Student mentees also attend information sessions on cybersecurity companies and participate virtually in career panels.
“My mentor, Maggie MacAlpine, is great. I learned so much from her in these few short weeks,” Dixson said. “We haven’t just talked about the project I’m working on with her. I am interested in the experience and the relationship I’m developing with Maggie. This is more about developing those interpersonal skills and establishing connections.”
MacAlpine said she has enjoyed mentoring Dixson and giving her an opportunity to get industry experience. Information security is one of the fastest growing fields and offers well-paying positions. However, many jobs require years of experience, and the mentoring program helps close the gap.
“I’m thrilled to be able to help driven and dedicated students like Lyly get into the field and overcome those first missing rungs on the ladder,” MacAlpine said. “Lyly is so driven, so hard working and so smart. There were places where I was learning from her. Anyone would be lucky to have her.”
In the computer and IT security program at STCC, Dixson and Davis have taken classes with Professors Brian Candido and Jason Alves, among others.
“The Cybersecurity Mentorship Program is competitive, and I’m thrilled Lyly Dixson and Chase Davis applied and were accepted,” Candido said. “They’re on the path to successful careers. Our cybersecurity program prepares students for in-demand jobs in IT security after graduation.”
“Professor Candido and Professor Alves, and the rest of the staff in the cybersecurity program, have been terrific and supportive,” Dixson said. “I believe all the staff in the CIT degree really take their time to make sure the students are getting the information they need. … I really do believe that the faculty care a lot about the students.
Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.
About Springfield Technical Community College
STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu