Sixth Cybersecurity Mentorship Program Welcomes 6 New Companies & 5 New Colleges
Program has supported 175 diverse students from 37 schools statewide
Since the fall of 2020, the Massachusetts Cybersecurity Mentorship Program has supported 175 diverse students from 37 schools across the Commonwealth, connecting them with professional mentors to discuss cybersecurity careers and work together on a cyber-related project.
The spring 2023 cohort is the sixth session of the program over the past four years, helping to grow and foster diversity in the cybersecurity workforce in Massachusetts, a critical issue for the sector. In addition to the work with their mentor, students also participate virtually in career panels.
The program has welcomed 82 mentors from 45 companies over the six sessions. The six new mentor companies that were added to the program this spring are Accenture, Compass Technical Training, Integrated IT, Massport, Product Security Group, and Reliable Energy Analytics.
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Five new schools were added to the program this session to bring the total number of participating institutions to 37, representing two- and four-year higher ed institutions across the state.
The five new schools participating this spring are Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, Elms College, Northern Essex Community College, Salem State, and Wentworth Institute of Technology.
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On March 1st, 2023, Ben Linville-Engler, Acting Director of the MassCyberCenter and Chief Investment Strategist and Program Executive for the MassTech Collaborative, provided keynote remarks during the kickoff event for the spring cohort. In his remarks, Ben highlighted the opportunities that exist for students looking to enter the strong cybersecurity ecosystem in Massachusetts: “Cybersecurity cuts across many of the major sectors in Massachusetts, including health care, manufacturing, higher education, and financial services. For students who are interested in entering the cybersecurity field, this Mentorship Program provides flexibility to continue the learning process while also paving the way for potential future employment."
The full list of organizations and schools that have participated in the program, along with details on how to become a mentor or mentee, can be found at https://masscybercenter.org/mentorship.