Devin Kelley has certainly made his mark on the Mount: He was the first student to graduate from the college with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity.
Kelley was enjoying what he was learning as a Criminology major, saying it made him both a better writer and a more inquisitive student. But when the Mount began offering Cybersecurity as a major in the fall of 2020, the opportunity was too good for Kelley to pass up.
Two years later, Cybersecurity has become a passion for him: “It’s an awesome field and it’s only going to get bigger,” he said.
Although he’ll miss being a Mount student, Kelley is thankful for the professors who helped him along the way, such as Sagar Raina, assistant professor of Information Technology, and Denise McCarroll, instructor of Information Technology.
Kelley will also miss being a student-athlete. The time management skills he gained while juggling scholastics and Lacrosse have proven to be invaluable.
“Especially in-season, you don’t have as much time to yourself,” noted Kelley. “Your schedule is very rigid. That’s what helped me to not be distracted, knowing I had to get my work done or I’d be up until 3 o’clock in the morning. It definitely made me a better student.”
Kelley has some advice for students who are considering a major or concentration in Cybersecurity: If you want something that’s fulfilling and in demand, Cybersecurity is a great fit.
“Stick with it,” he said. “If there’s something you don’t know, look it up or ask your professors – they’re really, really good. Their office doors are always open and they’re always willing to help you.”