In February 2019, Mason Clark traveled with classmates to Yonkers, New York, to give a presentation on cross-industry cybersecurity best practices to Consumer Reports, a leader in product research and consumer-focused advocacy. The opportunity cemented for Clark the unique value and prescient significance of both IU’s master’s program and the cybersecurity field at-large.
“I learned that cybersecurity is and will continue to be an issue for nearly every company, so graduates from IU’s Cybersecurity Program will have a unique and useful skill when they enter the work force,” said Clark. “I also learned that cybersecurity issues affect more than just cybersecurity professionals at a given company – lawyers, C-suite executives, and information technology professionals all play substantial roles in cybersecurity. The Cybersecurity Program is a reflection of IU’s commitment to tackling one of the most pressing areas in law, policy, and business.”
Clark was particularly attracted to the opportunity provided by the program to take a variety of technical, industry-specific, and policy-focused courses taught by leading cybersecurity experts. He quickly learned about the invaluable education and networking opportunities that are part of IU’s program.
Now a member of IU’s first graduating class of the Cybersecurity Risk Management Program, Clark is putting the knowledge he obtained at IU to the test as he joins Ice Miller LLP, an Indianapolis-based law firm, in September 2019 as an associate attorney. He will specialize in working with the company’s data security and privacy group.
When Janaki Reddy Gaddam was weighing her options to choose a cybersecurity master’s degree program, she focused primarily on the coursework. Many programs offered first-in-class training and promising job prospects, but it was IU’s interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity curricula that immediately set it apart and ultimately sealed Gaddam’s decision to head to Bloomington.
Throughout the program, Gaddam learned to understand and embrace how cybersecurity regulation directly intersects with business management and operations across all industries. The holistic instruction underscored critical thinking as part of her skill development, helping her master the practical problem-solving techniques required for the professional world.
“The courses helped me understand the legal side of security and privacy laws, as well as understanding the risks from the business perspective and technical courses too,” she said. “These courses at IU really help students choose different roles in cybersecurity, like cyber-risk, cyberinfrastructure, application security, risk and compliance.
“I believe IU’s Cybersecurity Program is the only program perfectly crafted by considering courses from computing, law, and management programs,” she added. “Graduating students will have the required expertise to excel in the professional world.”
With her MS in Cybersecurity Risk Management in hand, Gaddam is looking ahead to the next step in her career. Her opportunities include joining Deloitte as a cyber-risk consultant in Houston as well as working as an analyst with Paypal’s IT, privacy, risk, and compliance team in Chandler, Arizona.
