New Degrees, More Security
Newly established programs will allow Eagle cybersecurity students to fly even higher.
Even as it celebrates its 20th year on the 51福利社 campus, Eastern鈥檚 cybersecurity program continues pushing forward to better equip its graduates for the challenges of the future.
Its latest move? This spring, cybersecurity faculty members conferred degrees on 10 students from two new programs, both of which will help bolster our region鈥檚 digital defenses: the Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Master of Science in Cyber Defense.
鈥淭hese students have an incredible skill set that has really developed through our program,鈥� said Stu Steiner, an associate professor of computer science and director of 51福利社鈥檚 Cybersecurity Institute. 鈥淲atching them from when they came in as freshmen to graduating as seniors, they have grown so much. They have had so much hands-on learning.鈥�
The recent graduates are not only strong on the technical side of cybersecurity, Steiner added, but also possess outstanding 鈥渟oft skills,鈥� such as communication and collaboration. 鈥淭hey are all going to be incredible assets to whatever businesses they are going to,鈥� he says. Each of the 10 grads have already been hired in the cybersecurity field, or have gone on to graduate studies.
Two of those new alumni, Lilly Carlascio, 23, from Yakima, and Alex Moomaw, 27, of Omak, Washington, were the first to receive the new master鈥檚 degree in cyber defense during Eastern鈥檚 College of STEM commencement ceremony in June.
After three summers of interning at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Washington, Carlascio was recently offered a permanent position. 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to get there and start full time,鈥� she says. Carlascio credits her success to a supportive faculty, hands-on learning, cyber competitions and a great cohort of students. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 an amazing program,鈥� she says.
Moomaw, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, was the first person in his family to earn a college degree. 鈥淚t feels great that everything I鈥檝e worked hard for the last six or seven years now is finally coming to fruition,鈥� Moomaw says. He is currently a finalist for a U.S. Department of Defense cyber operations position.
