Illinois Tech to Host Local Women in Cybersecurity Event

With cybersecurity being increasingly vital today, Illinois Institute of Technology announces that the Fifth Annual Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) event will be held March 23 through March 24, 2018 at the Hilton Chicago. WiCyS continues to innovatively expand its mission to bring together women in cybersecurity from academia, research and industry.

WiCyS is regarded as the forum for women to expand their opportunities in the field of cybersecurity, and the event is exclusively designed as the forum for speakers and guests to exchange knowledge, experience, networking, and mentoring to raise interest in the field of cybersecurity. Any individual or organization interested in supporting recruiting and retention efforts for women in cybersecurity is encouraged to participate.

WiCyS was launched in 2013 by Ambareen Siraj, director, Cybersecurity Education, Research and Outreach Center, Tennessee Tech, in collaboration with University of Memphis and Jackson State Community College.

“The College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech is very pleased to have the opportunity to support this great conference and initiative organized by our Cybersecurity Education, Research and Outreach Center under Ambareen’s leadership. More than ever, we need women in cybersecurity and this program is playing an increasingly important role in this area,” said Vahid Motevalli, associate dean for research and innovation at Tennessee Tech.

Each WiCyS conference is hosted by a regional university—this year’s local host is Illinois Institute of Technology, led by Ray Trygstad, associate director, Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education. “We are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase Chicago and to advance the cybersecurity profession and the role of women in the profession,” Trygstad said.

The conference will include keynote presentations, workshops, poster competitions, mentoring sessions, and a career fair.

About Women in Cybersecurity

The WiCyS initiative was launched in 2013 with support from a National Science Foundation grant (Award #1303441, Lead PI: Ambareen Siraj, Computer Science, Tennessee Tech University).