Kelsey Cueto of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., a Mount Saint Mary College Cybersecurity student, recently attended the 2023 Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) conference in Denver, Colo.
Cueto attended the event on a scholarship from WiCyS, thanks to her strong academic skills.
The Women in Cybersecurity organization is dedicated to bringing talented women together to foster their passion for cybersecurity. WiCyS helps to build a strong, gender-diverse cybersecurity workforce by facilitating recruitment, retention, and advancement for women in the field.
Cueto noted that the annual conference was a “once in a lifetime experience” for her and many other attendees.
“It was amazing to be surrounded by so many successful and motivated women,” she explained. “As a young Afro Latina pursuing a career in tech, it has been extremely difficult to relate to my peers. Attending this conference has been inspirational and empowering, to see women who look like me excel in their fields.”
One of the most memorable moments of the conference was meeting with presenters from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The experience “solidified the fact in me that this dream can be achievable,” she said.
Cueto credits her time at the Mount with giving her the confidence and the skills needed to succeed. Before attending the college, she could never have envisioned herself heading to prestigious conferences, networking, and building the foundation of a career in Cybersecurity, she noted.
“Through classes at the Mount and the support I received from [the Mount’s] Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), I feel like all these opportunities no longer seem impossible to achieve,” Cueto said.