By Maggie Susa, The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — As cybersecurity becomes more important in industry, Marshall University aims to increase the number of women working in the field.
National Center of Excellence for Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure hosted “Path to Innovation: Women in Cyber Forum” Monday at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation at Marshall University.
The event was hosted by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and featured Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA). The two other panelists were Amy Cyphert, a professor at the West Virginia University College of Law, and Alex Royal, senior advisor to the U.S Cyber Command under Joint Force Headquarters — Department of Defense Information Network.
One of Easterly’s goals is to get more women — and really, people from a variety of backgrounds — into the cybersecurity industry.
“We need everybody of all kinds to be part of this incredible profession,” Easterly said.
She said that right now, 24% of the people in cybersecurity are women. At CISA, 38% are women, and in Marshall University’s program, 31% are women. Easterly said she would like to see the cybersecurity workforce be 50% women by 2030.
