Lone Star College cybersecurity students had the unique opportunity to attend the recent American Petroleum Institute Cybersecurity Conference Expo which focused on protecting the energy industry from cyberattacks.
“Lone Star College started a mentor-mentee initiative through Information Security Systems Association to prepare students to be more marketable in the field of cybersecurity and which led to this opportunity,” said Dalia Sherif, Ph.D., LSC Executive Dean, Bachelor’s Programs and Partnerships. “These students were able to meet with industry leaders and learn about the challenges and opportunities that await them after graduation.”
The API Cybersecurity Conference & Expo has been an annual event since 2006. For 11 years it has been the only cybersecurity conference dedicated to the oil and natural gas industry and has a loyal and dedicated attendee base. This year’s keynote speakers included Robert Lee, CEO, Dragos and Wendi Whitmore, Senior Vice President, Unit 42, Palo Alto Networks.
“Lone Star College students were recognized at most of the panel discussions and were the only students to attend the conference,” said Sherif. “All of our students were also able to secure internships or interviews.”
Panel discussions included Enhancing Cybersecurity Through Partnerships; Cloud Computing Security & Incident Management; and Cybersecurity, Privacy, Policies & Laws.
LSC continues to bridge theory and practice to promote learning outside the classroom. These unique experiences differ from those that arise through conventional teaching methods as students are encouraged to engage a broader range of soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and networking in a new learning environment.
Students can find many IT security programs including a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity degree. Learn more by visiting LoneStar.edu/Programs-of-Study.
Lone Star College offers high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education to 93,000+ students each semester. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2021 Great Colleges to Work For institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education and ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers By State’ list. LSC consists of seven colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.