McKEESPORT, Pa. — As technology continues to shape every industry, faculty and students from Penn State Greater Allegheny are engaging with regional leaders to help drive conversations around innovation, equity and the future of cybersecurity.
Jennifer L. Breese, associate professor of information technology, program coordinator for information technology and cybersecurity analytics and operations, and Mark R. Gruskin Professor in Information Sciences and Technology at Greater Allegheny campus, recently served as a panelist for the “Women in Cybersecurity” discussion during the Three Rivers Information Security Symposium (TRISS) on Oct. 29 in Pittsburgh at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Presented by Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS)–Pittsburgh, Breese’s panel featured professionals who shared how they have navigated male-dominated spaces, used their strengths to advance their organizations and “hacked the glass ceiling.” Panelists also discussed their career growth, offered advice for those entering the field, and shared tips for building strong careers in information technology and cybersecurity.
Breese joined moderator Stephanie Saunders and fellow panelists Rose Songer, information security officer at Kyruus Health; Laurie Iacono, director of threat intelligence at At-Bay Security; and Ashley DeFazio, security integration specialist and independent consultant.
Seven students from Greater Allegheny campus attended the symposium and participated in its sessions and networking opportunities. Those students included Victor Sandoval, Christopher Fullard, Bigyan Regmi, Zach Nemac, Rose Griffin, Dylan Kinnear and Jack Howell.
The annual symposium is a one-day, multi-track event that brings together Pittsburgh’s top information technology and security professionals to share knowledge and collaborate. Organized entirely by volunteers, TRISS aims to increase awareness, foster collaboration and enhance knowledge within the local information security community. The symposium featured multiple panels, alongside the one with Breese, including discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and strategies for building resilient information technology teams.