Women in Cybersecurity

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Last Updated: Nov 14, 2025, 10:16 AM

WiCyS Hosts Fundraiser Guest Speaker Isaac Brown

CARBONDALE, Ill. — October 29, 2025

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Students attending the WiCyS guest speaker session with Isaac Brown. Photo courtesy of SIU WiCyS.

The SIU Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) chapter wrapped up an active and impactful fall semester with a series of events focused on professional development, cybersecurity education, and STEM outreach. According to Belle Woodward, Associate Professor of Information Technology, the chapter organized a fundraiser, hosted a cybersecurity guest speaker, and prepared hands-on workshops for this year’s Expanding Your Horizons program.

Guest Speaker: Isaac Brown

On October 29, WiCyS hosted Isaac Brown — Senior Network Security Engineer, Cybersecurity Strategist, and Federal Compliance Specialist — for an engaging session covering:

  • AI Security
  • Containerization for DevOps
  • Career preparation in cybersecurity and defense

Students received guidance on industry expectations, emerging security challenges, and pathways into high-demand federal cybersecurity careers. Photos from the session were provided by Belle Woodward and participating students (Blessing Wallin, Mya Porche' and Louie Sirgiovanni).

Expanding Your Horizons STEM Outreach

CARBONDALE, Ill. — November 1, 2025

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Students lead two interactive workshops during Expanding Your Horizons 2025

On Saturday, November 1, WiCyS members led two hands-on workshops at Expanding Your Horizons 2025, SIU’s annual STEM program for 5th–9th grade students. The workshops introduced younger learners to computing, cybersecurity, and problem-solving in an encouraging and interactive environment.

Student Assisting WiCyS
Student Assisting WiCyS

These outreach efforts demonstrate WiCyS’s commitment to expanding representation in cybersecurity and supporting future generations of technologists. Photos and additional highlights will be shared as they become available.

WiCyS Expanding Your Horizons STEM Outreach Group Photo
Students lead two interactive workshops during Expanding Your Horizons 2025

To close out the event, WiCyS members gathered for a group photo highlighting the strong engagement throughout the day's workshops.

“It’s wonderful to show the outreach and professional work our chapter is doing!”
— Belle Woodward, Associate Professor of Information Technology

About WiCyS: Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) is a national organization dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity through community, mentorship, and professional development.

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WiCyS RSO Page: Women in Cybersecurity

Media Contact: School of Computing Communications • socinfo@siu.edu