Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Cybersecurity Insights
a NIST blog
This blog is part of a larger NIST series during the month of October for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, called 'Staff Stories Spotlight.' Throughout the month of October this year, Q&A style blogs will be published featuring some of our unique staff members who have interesting backgrounds, stories to tell, and projects in the world of cybersecurity.
This year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month theme is ‘Secure our World.’ How does this theme resonate with you, as someone working in cybersecurity?
The theme 'Secure our World' resonates deeply with me, as it emphasizes our collective responsibility to protect our digital environments. In cybersecurity, I see firsthand the importance of extending awareness and education to all communities, particularly those with limited access, such as low-income families. These communities are often the most vulnerable to cyber attacks like phishing, identity theft, and online scams. By building a diverse and well-trained cybersecurity workforce, we can better address these vulnerabilities. A workforce that reflects the communities it serves is crucial in developing targeted strategies and outreach efforts that ensure everyone, regardless of their background, has the knowledge to protect themselves online. Together, we can create a more secure and inclusive world for all.
Describe your career pathway and how that led you to the cybersecurity field?
I’m a first-generation college graduate. As a first-generation student, navigating career pathways was not an easy journey. I attended Sacramento City College (SCC), where I was fortunate to find a community that supported underserved students like me in exploring careers and transferring to four-year institutions. I graduated from SCC with two associate degrees—one in Business Administration and another in Social Sciences. I then transferred to California State University, Sacramento, where I earned a bachelor's degree in Economics.
Not all cybersecurity jobs are technical. My background is in advocacy, education, program management, outreach, and student resources. In the fall of 2019, I learned about NIST at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) career fair. I was in my last semester of college and eager to land a job opportunity that could jump-start my career. I always knew I wanted to be of service to my community, and I saw public service as a pathway to achieve that. Cybersecurity was never on my mind. I’m not a technical person, and when we think of cybersecurity, we often associate it with “hacking,” which seemed unrelated to my background. However, when I learned about the work of the NICE Program Office, I decided to apply. On October 26, 2024 I will celebrate my fourth year in public service.
Describe the role(s) that you play at NIST. What are some interesting projects you’ve worked on recently?
At NIST, I’m Program Manager of NICE, a program in the Applied Cybersecurity Division in the Information Technology Laboratory. The mission of NICE is to energize, promote, and coordinate a robust community working together to advance an integrated ecosystem of cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. As Program Manager, I lead the NICE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community of Interest, I serve as the staff liaison for both the NICE Community Coordinating Council and the NICE Interagency Coordinating Council. My role involves executive and technical production of NICE events, where I develop and implement marketing strategies to increase public visibility of these events. I maintain communication mechanisms for the NICE Program and act as the staff coordinator and liaison for key events such as the NICE K-12 Conference and NICE Conference and Expo. Additionally, I work to raise the visibility of NICE by managing communication streams, creating content for announcements, managing and developing web content, and coordinating the production of communication strategies. I also serve as the coordinating liaison for federal grant funding and contract recipients.
One of the projects I recently took over is the Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development (RAMPS Program). This program aims to build multistakeholder workforce partnerships among employers, schools and institutions of higher education, and other community organizations. Back in California, I worked for a federally funded STEM program at a college that assisted underserved students in transferring to four-year institutions to pursue careers in STEM. Being on the grantor side of things is a completely different experience. Helping to coordinate these funding opportunities for employers, schools, institutions of higher education, and other community organizations is rewarding because you know the long-term impact it will have on the cybersecurity workforce.
What is your favorite part about working at NIST?
There are three aspects of my experience at NIST that I particularly cherish.
First and foremost is the exceptional work-life balance that the organization promotes. From the very beginning, I was encouraged to prioritize self-care and well-being, which has significantly contributed to both my professional productivity and personal happiness. This balance allows me to give my best to my work while also enjoying quality time outside of the office.
Secondly, the positive impact that our work has on the public is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that the research, standards, and initiatives we develop at NIST directly benefit society adds a deeper sense of purpose to my daily tasks. Whether it’s contributing to advancements in technology, improving safety protocols, or supporting innovation, I am proud to be part of an institution that makes a tangible difference in the world.
Lastly, the sense of solidarity and friendships I've built within the NIST community, particularly within the NICE team and among other colleagues, have been invaluable. These relationships have transformed my work environment into a supportive and enjoyable space, where collaboration and mutual respect thrive. The connections I've made have not only enriched my professional life but have also led to lasting friendships that I deeply value. Overall, my experience at NIST has been defined by a supportive environment, meaningful work, and strong personal connections—all of which make it a truly rewarding place to be.
