Cyber Security Talent to be Addressed at Annual Legislative Conference

Dr. Rosemary Shumba to Participate in Panel Discussion

 

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – Expanding and growing the cyber security workforce will be a major topic discussed by industry leaders, government officials and BSU computer science chair, Dr. Rosemary Shumba, on Thursday, Sept.12, at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 

Shumba will participate in a panel discussion entitled “Tapping Into Untapped Talent: Diversifying the Cyber Talent Pipeline.” Cyber security companies and leaders have spent decades attempting to recruit more black talent into the industry prompting investments in partnerships with Bowie State and other HBCUs which produce many of our nation’s cyber security engineers and analysts. 

“Our computer science program puts a heavy emphasis on experiential learning and internships for students, in addition to classroom instruction,” said Shumba. “We work very closely with Adobe, other industry leaders and the federal government to ensure our students have meaningful experiences as interns which will help prepare them for full-time employment after graduating.” 

Joining Shumba on the panel are Seeyew Mo, assistant national cyber director in the Office of the National Cyber Director; Brian Tippens, senior vice president, Cisco; Nitin Natarajan, deputy director, Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency; Muta Mashack, senior manager Global, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Tenable; and Nicle Tisdale, founder of Advocacy Blueprints. 

“HBCUs need to become a major feeder of cyber security talent to the federal government, corporations and non-profits,” said Shumba. “We feel fortunate at Bowie State to be located in the national capital region where the demand for cyber security professionals is the highest in the nation.” 

Worldwide there is a need for over 4 million cyber security professionals with threats to businesses and governments increasing daily. In the U.S., there are over 469,000 cyber security jobs currently available. 

The CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference is the nation’s leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans and the global Black community.  

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