The Adventures of a Cybersecurity Career
On March 2, 2020, Associate Professor of Cybersecurity and adviser for the cybersecurity club Richard Seweryniak sponsored a Cybersecurity Day event at the North Mall Meeting room. Seweryniak had five different companies speak about cybersecurity: The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and infrastructure Security Agency, Virginia’s Assistant Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Congressional Representatives, Counterflow, AI, the Charlottesville Police Department, and the Community College Outreach Specialist at UVA, Holly Scott.
Each speaker gave their own why and how students should explore a career in cybersecurity. One shared how he had no background in cybersecurity, but had a skillset that his employers wanted and went from a career as a police officer to working cybersecurity for the police department. Tom Crabbs from the Public Safety and Homeland Security, said the average salary for cybersecurity is approximately $110,000.
Students will need critical thinking and writing skills, according to the speakers. You can add technical skills and more technical knowledge by going to schools such as UVA. UVA offers online courses in cybersecurity for those who work full-time. They also offer hybrid classes where students spend some time in class and with the professor but work mostly online. Scott encouraged those who wanted a career in cybersecurity and explained how to accomplish this.
There is a bright future in cybersecurity for those who want to change careers or students that want to study cybersecurity. PVCC offers a great class in cybersecurity with Seweryniak which also offers lower cost for an education. Cybersecurity Day offered new possibilities for students who are interested in a career in cybersecurity. Anyone interested in this career path can speak with their advisor. If you would like to learn more about it you can always email associate professor Richard Seweryniak at rseweryniak@pvcc.edu.
